Difference between HTML-mode, URL-mode and GUI-mode recording

Posted: April 22nd, 2008 | Author: TnT Admin | Filed under: Concepts | Tags: | 4 Comments »

When you are starting to record a web application, you should be aware of the HTML-mode and URL-mode recording that a Web (HTTP/HTML) protocol has to offer. Today, we will just briefly talk about the differences (in general) and how it applies to your script.

HTML-mode

HTML-mode recording is the default and recommended recording mode. It records HTML action in the context of the current Web page (which means everything you see on the web page will be recorded in a single function). However, having mentioned the above, it can be configured to your needs on the level of resources you want to record (Refer to Vugen User Guide, “Setting Recording Options for Web Vusers” for more information).

(Source: LoadRunner Yahoo Group)

The advantage of this mode is that it generates a script that is intuitive to the reader in terms of what is the form requesting (in a form of entire web page). Readers of the scripts will then be able to recognize each “logical” requests/call made to the server, making amendments to the script easily.

URL-mode

The URL-mode option instructs VuGen to record all requests and resources from the server. It automatically records every HTTP resource as URL steps. This recording mode captures even non-HTML applications such as applets and non-browser applications.

(Source: LoadRunner Yahoo Group)

The advantage of this mode is that it generates a script that has all known resources downloaded for your viewing. This works good with non-HTML applications such as applets and non-browser applications (e.g. Win32 executables). But having everything together creates another problem of overwhelming low-level information and making the script unintuitive.

When there are unrecognizable requests made to the server in Web (HTTP/HTML) protocol, they are recorded as web_custom_request. However, in URL-mode, this can be selected to allow recording to default to web_custom_request.

GUI-mode

This is introduced with Web (Click & Script) protocol. The GUI-mode option instructs VuGen to record all editable fields in an object or non-browser applications. What it does is to detect the fields that have been edited and generate the scripts accordingly. The concept is similar to functional testing when objects are detected at the GUI-level. When reading the script, it allows easier reading as the script is based on the GUI presented to the real user.

Different modes of recording in LoadRunner


Hope that helps give an overview of what and how you should choose in recording the Web (HTTP/HTML) protocol. My recommendation is to stick with the defaults unless you are facing issues with recording and if the application you are working with is not of browser natural.

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4 Comments on “Difference between HTML-mode, URL-mode and GUI-mode recording”

  1. 1 Dinesh said at 12:16 am on October 3rd, 2008:

    This is a neat and clear explanation. Thanks.

  2. 2 TnT Admin said at 12:17 am on October 3rd, 2008:

    Thank you. :)

  3. 3 Naveen said at 12:18 am on October 4th, 2008:

    Hi,

    I am a beginner in loadrunner and read many forums to understand the variuos recording modes. But your forum gave quite clear explanation of the three modes. But I have still one confusion(mentioned below) regarding this. As You said, HTML recording records HTML action in the context of the current Web page, so does it mean that if we record using HTML mode and submit a request for yahoo home page and receive the yahoo page, then only html data would be recorded(although can be configured to record non HTML resources) and the Non HTML resources will not be recorded from the downloaded yahoo home page. while in URL mode, each and every resource of the downloaded yahoo page is will be recorded.

    And one more thing is, if we can configure HTML mode to record non html resources and to record each step as web_url also then why do we need this URL mode as we are doing the same thing by configuring the HTML mode. Please clarify.

  4. 4 TnT Admin said at 12:18 am on October 4th, 2008:

    Yes. HTML recording will record HTML action and ignore the non-HTML resources. While in URL recording mode, each resource is being downloaded. Why is there such a need? It depends on your requirements of load testing. Sometimes, there is no need to download non-HTML resources as they do not generate load on the server (particularly the application server). As such, HTML recording is selected.

    Another situation that can occur is that Vugen is unable to record properly using HTML recording mode that may result in, example, hanging. (Refer to “Quick-and-Dirty Recording Techniques for Web (HTTP/HTML)”). As such, URL recording mode is used to record the page as part of an alternative solution.

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