For each PAgraph state machine, you can define the following properties:

  • State variables into which the number and name of the current state are written at run time.
  • The processing frequency at which to execute the state machine.
  • The settings for the online visualization.

Open the Properties dialog by selecting State Machine » Properties.

State Variables

At run time, the name and state number of the active state are written in two test variables if you enter suitable variable names. This definition is independent of the graphical representation of the state machine.

To open the selection dialog for the names, click in the input field. Define the following in the State variables area:

Input Field Data Type Meaning
State name Text Name of the active state. Can occur more than once in the same state machine.
State number Integer Number of the active state. Must be unique.

Processing Frequency and Order

There is a system operation called Execute Programs. If this system operation is defined in your database with different frequency groups, you can select one of these frequency groups and specify it in the Processing Frequency field for the execution of your state machine throughout the database.

However, you can also define a new operation group that does not yet exist in any operation table. Then you have to make sure that this operation group is known at the time of the test generation, otherwise the state machine will not be executed.

Figure 66. Processing Frequency and Order Selection

Determine the sequence of execution by entering a number in the Order field.

The following rules apply when determining the sequence:

  • The number must be greater than or equal to 1.
  • The smaller this number is, the earlier the program is executed.
  • Only one counting sequence exists for all operation tables, PAgraph, PAbasic, PAgraph++- and PAscript programs. This means that any number you enter for the order should be unique within a test.
  • If the numbers are the same, the execution is random.
  • If the Priority field remains empty, all other programs for which a sequence is defined are executed prior.

Online Options

You can display state machines graphically for the test run. Displaying state machines graphically is possible in the Userbox and in the PAtools Test Analyzer.

To do display state machines graphically, you must first configure the online settings for the state machine. Use the Properties dialog, where you can define the representation of your state machine for the test run time and the state variables.

Use PAgraph Online

Activate PAgraph online to enable the graphical display at test run time.

If you activate this option, the state machine is generated as an XML file in the test package. The name of this file is created according to the pattern <Name of the PAgraph++ Program>.XML.

Diagram (Zoom)

In this table, you can set the zoom factor for the display of the state machine and its substate machines in the Userbox.

The columns of the table have the following meaning:

Column Name Input Meaning
State Machine --- Displays the existing state machines hierarchically in a tree structure.
Zoom: Online Percentage Desired zoom factor for the display in the Userbox or in the PAtools Test Analyzer.
Zoom: Actual --- Current zoom factor in the diagram.

Name for Controlling the Diagrams

By default, this substate machine is also switched to in the graphical display during the test run time when changing to a substate machine.

To change this behavior, you can define a test quantity, the value of which you can use to control the graphical display. All data types that are available for sizes are allowed in the name field for controlling the diagrams.