Data Generation tab
Use the Data Generation tab to set parameters related to automatically generating question answers.
Response creation
Create responses from a data source
When selected, auto answer playback is enabled during interviewing, and the auto answer questions are generated from a specified data source (the question values are set according to what is found in the data source). This setting is not selected by default. Random values are generated for questions that do not exist in the specified data source. When this setting is enabled, valid Data source connection and SQL statement to read responses, Select table, Select columns, and Specify where clause values are required.
Data source connection
Use this field to specify the data source connection string used in auto answer playback (when Create responses from a data source is selected). Clicking Edit displays the Data Link Properties dialog that prompts you to input the data source information.
SQL statement to read responses
Use this field to provide a valid select clause for querying the data source (when Create responses from a data source is selected). When not manually set, use the default select * from vdata setting.
Note Only top level questions can be used when the query is based on an HDATA table.
Number of cases
Create the same number of interviews as specified in the source above
Select this option when you want to create the same number of interviews as the record count in the specified data source. When selected, the total number of interviews created by ALL threads is equal to the source's record count. The option is only available when Create responses from a data source is selected.
Number of times
Select this option to set the fixed number of interviews to run. The default value is 100 interviews.
Duration
Select this option if you want the test to run for a fixed length of time. The number of interviews run will depend on the length of the questionnaire, the answers selected, and the amount of navigation that takes place within each interview.
Run time (dd:hh:mm:ss)
When Duration is selected, this setting allows you to specify how long in days, hours, minutes, and seconds the test will run. The default value is 5 minutes.
Answers
Use random interview seed
Select this option if you want to specify a random seed for the Auto Answer player to use when selecting answers, and enter the seed value in the provided field. If you do not select this option, the Auto Answer player sets the seed itself, choosing a different seed for each interview. You must manually set the random interview seed if you will want to rerun a test and have the Auto Answer player select identical sets of answers in both runs. Selecting this option means that all data collected during the load run will be the same.
Stop test on first error
When selected, the test stops running whenever an error occurs. The test ignores all errors when this setting is not selected. A few examples that can result in error conditions include running out of sample records or the server crashing while a test is running. See the
Logging information for more information.
Auto-answer metadata
Identifies the metadata file that the Auto Answer player should use for hints on how to select responses. Click the ellipsis button next to the field and then browse to locate the appropriate auto answer metadata file. Load Tool checks the file's format to ensure that a valid metadata file is selected (the tool will issue an error message if a non-valid file is selected). Refer to the Running an Interview Automatically topic in the UNICOM Intelligence Professional User's Guide for additional information regarding the Auto Answer player.
See also