Jmeter how to loop through a list of different properties in a single thread group or controller? - loops

Question

How to do a basic loop through different properties for a fixed set of controllers? Loop controller runs a set group a certain number of times, does not use properties though.
I can do modules, and set the values to properties for multi thread group usage, but how to pass the next iteration of the property, and run the loop again?
property x
do module (points to controllers)
next property
Say I have a list of 44 characters, and I want to loop through those characters in a ${name} while I'm doing a test. I'd very much not like to build 44 sets of controllers for one character change.
Please Note I cannot add extra files to my computer. It has to work via the stock available controllers. I'm using Jmeter 2.4 r961953
Thanks

Answer 1

I will elaborate slightly more about the BeanShell method. My assumption is that you'd like to do it within one User Thread, if so my proposal would be:
Create a Loop Controller.
Logic Controller->Loop Controller
Inside Loop Controller add following entries:
Config Element -> Counter
Preprocessors -> BeanShell preprocessor
Sampler -> yourSampler
The Counter element will be used as an index that will be used to choose valid value from our array, hence we need to specify a Reference Name for the Counter - let's say that it will be loopCounter.
Now we have to switch to BeanShell preprocessor and define the array of values. A great thing is that we have vars variable available and it gives us CRUD access to variables used in the scenario:
String[] varArray = {"Value1", "Value2"};
idx = Integer.parseInt(vars.get("loopCounter"))-1;
vars.put("myVariable", varArray[idx]);
And for the final step, inside mySampler we can use a variable in a regular JMeter way : ${myVariable}
JMeter API can be very helpfull if you want a more sophisticated solution.

Answer 2

There are a handful of different ways to loop through different values without adding external files:
Use beanshell controller, and write javascript to set your variable
Use a counter to increment by one
Use User Parameters
You can set it up so each loop gets a different value.
Check out the various configuration controllers to find one that works best for you.
EDIT:
I meant user parameters, not user define variables.
User Parameter
You'd need one row per variable with 44 columns. Sorry for the confusion.
User Parameter Structure
test plan
- Thread Group looped 44 times
-- User parameter
-- Request
Beanshell Method
Alternately, you could do an array in javascript in connection with a counter. The Beanshell samplers have access to Jmeter variables and properties, allowing the beanshell sampler to read the counter value. This may be a faster, cleaner way then using User Parameters.
Beanshell structure
test plan
- Thread Group looped 44 times
-- Counter
-- Request
---- Beanshell pre-processor
Beanshell Pseudo code would be
def counter = value of Jmeter Counter
def array = array of values
declare the variable "sampler_value" to be used by sampler
def sampler_value = array # counter
Counter with CharAt function
If you only need to generate characters, you could use the javascript function to utilize the function charAt, using the value from the Counter. Basic structure would be:
test plan
- Thread Group looped 44 times
-- Counter
-- Request
with the request using something like ${__javaScript(charAt(${counter})) as the parameter value. You may have to use JEXL instead of javaScript or evalVar/V/eval inside the charAt function.