You can add, review, modify, and delete virtual assets and related files on a connected Virtualize server directly from the Virtual Assets page. In this section:

For information about adding data sources and data bank tools to virtual assets, see Parameterizing with Data Source and Data Bank Values.

Reviewing Virtual Assets and Related Files

The virtual assets (.pva files), message proxies, responder suites, responders, and related files available in each connected Virtualize server’s VirtualAssets project appear in the left panel of the Virtual Assets page. You can filter this list by entering search terms (keywords, metadata and tags) in the search bar above the asset tree. Click on an asset or file to view its details.

You can modify the virtual asset’s correlations as described in Configuring Responder Correlations.

Download files by clicking the download link at the Filepath field:

Viewing Message Proxy Details

The Virtual Assets screen displays message proxies in the VirtualAssets project. You can click on a message proxy to view its details, including type and connection settings.

You cannot modify the connection settings for message proxies from CTP. See Configuring Message Proxies for additional information. 

Refreshing Files

To see files recently added from the Virtualize desktop:

  1. In the left pane, select the Virtualize server whose assets you want to refresh.
  2. Choose Refresh Server from the page-level action menu.
     

Editing File Names and Properties

To edit asset names, file names, or descriptions:

  1. Choose a file from the left pane and click in the filed you want to edit.
  2. Make the desired changes.
  3. Click Save.

Adding Folders

To add a folder for organizing virtual assets:

  1. In the left pane, select the server or existing folder where you want the new folder added.
  2. Choose Create Folder from the page-level action menu.
  3. (Optional) Modify the name of the newly-created folder.

The folder will be added to the specified Virtualize server.

You can copy/paste virtual assets (.pva files) and related assets into the new folder.

Uploading Files

To upload any files that would be helpful for your service virtualization efforts (existing .pvas, data source files, traffic files, etc.):

  1. In the left pane, select the server or folder where you want the file added.
  2. Choose Upload File from the page-level action menu.
     
  3. Use the file chooser to specify which file you want uploaded. If a .pva with the same name already exists and CTP is connected to Virtualize 9.10.3 or newer, proceeding will replace the existing file. See Replacing Virtual Assets.
     

The file will be added to the specified Virtualize server.

Replacing Virtual Assets

You can upload a new version of an existing .pva file without affecting component instances. The replacement .pva must have the same name as the original .pva file. This functionality is supported for Virtualize 9.10.3 and newer.

  1. Click on the folder containing the .pva file you want to replace.
  2. Choose Upload File from the page-level action menu.
  3. Browse for you file and click Replace.
     

Tagging Files

You can tag virtual assets, message proxies, and other files to help you categorize them according to your organizations requirements. Tags can be entered in the Virtual Assets tree search bar to filter results. You can also click a virtual asset’s tag hyperlink to focus the Virtual Assets tree on assets marked with that tag.

To add tags:

  1. In the tags area of your virtual asset, click the Edit button.
     
  2. Enter a tag name or a comma-separated list of tag names, then click Add.
     
  3. Click the Apply button.
     
  4. Save the changes to the test scenario.

Once the tag is applied, you can click the tag to quickly access all test scenarios with that same tag.


You can search by tag in the search bar above the Virtual Asset tree, as well as the main CTP search bar.

To quickly add multiple tags, separate tag names with a comma.
 

To delete a tag, hover over it, then click the X button.

Deleting Files

You can permanently delete a file from both CTP and the Virtualize server on which it is hosted. Place your pointer over the item you want to delete and click the Delete icon.

Copying Files

You can copy and paste .pvas, responder suites, responders, data sources, message proxies, files, etc. to another folder. When copying and pasting message proxies, the duplicate proxy will be in a disabled state if the original is enabled. 

Copy

To copy:

After you click Copy, you will see Paste icons added to any of the places where the copied asset can be pasted.

Note that the asset being copied has a highlighted Copy icon. If you want to cancel the copy action, click this highlighted icon.

Paste

To paste the asset:

Adding Variable Sets

You can define a set of variables associated with your virtual asset that can be referenced by your message responders. For example, the response values my need to change depending on the state of the application. Rather than hard-coding values in the message responder, you can place them in a variable and reuse the responder across multiple environments. See Working with Variables for additional information.