HTTP debugging overview

If a test is not behaving as expected, you can use the Protocol Data view to debug the test. This view can be useful after you record a test, after you make changes to an existing test by adding datasets or data correlation, or after you make changes to the system under test.

The Protocol Data view displays data that was recorded or played back. The Protocol Data view can also display data in real time as tests and schedules run. To see recorded data, click a test element in the test editor. To see data played back after running tests, click an element in the test log. The Protocol Data view updates accordingly. Substituted data is highlighted on the Request, Response Headers and Response Content pages when you view test log or test editor elements that use data correlation. The Protocol Data view contains these pages:
Request
This page displays all request data sent to a server. This includes the URL of the requested resource, request headers, cookies, and form data.
Response Headers
This page displays the response status line and header fields that are received from a server.
Response Contents
This page displays the response contents, in text form, that is received from a server.
Browser
This page attempts to display the response contents as a web browser would display the contents. Because the protocol data is used instead of data from a live web server, playback might be successful even though the Browser page might not render the contents exactly as a web browser would. Pages that might not display correctly include those that have resources cached on a web server and those that use Javascript and framesets extensively.
Event Log
This page displays event summary information for each HTTP page in the test. After a run, when you select a particular user from the test log, the page displays information about that user.
During a run, the page displays real-time information if real-time protocol data support is enabled. To enable this support, click Window > Preferences > Test > HTTP Protocol Data View, and then select Enable real-time protocol data support.