Environment Variables

QuickTest can insert a value from the Environment variable list, which is a list of variables and corresponding values that can be accessed from your test. Throughout the test run, the value of an environment variable remains the same, regardless of the number of iterations, unless you change the value of the variable programmatically in your script.

There are three types of environment variables:

• User-Defined Internal—variables that you define within the test. These variables are saved with the test and are accessible only within the test in which they were defined.

You can create or modify internal, user-defined environment variables for your test in the Environment tab of the Test Settings dialog box or in the Parameter Options dialog box.

Tip: You can also create environment output values, which retrieve values during the test run and output them to internal environment variable parameters for use in your test.

• User-Defined External—variables that you predefine in the active external environment variables file. You can create as many files as you want and select an appropriate file for each test, or change files for each test run. Note that external environment variable values are designated as read-only within the test.

• Built-in—variables that represent information about the test and the computer on which the test is run, such as Test path and Operating system. These variables are accessible from all tests, and are designated as read-only.

Note: QuickTest also has a set of predefined environment variables that you can use to set the values of the Record and Run Settings dialog options. You should not use the names of these variables for any other purpose.