Variant (consumer interface)

The Variant screen is displayed when a variant link is selected in the App Cockpit screen. It displays fields for the input parameters that were specified when the workflow was registered as an app, and allows their values to be edited. For new variants, the fields are set to the workflow’s original parameter values. For variants that have been edited, the fields are set to the values that were specified when the variant was saved. The Variant screen includes a breadcrumb trail leading back to the Apps screen.

Sections

The main part of the Variant screen includes a section for each parameter group you used when you registered the app with the Register Workflow as App Wizard. Each section has the name of its corresponding parameter group. However, if you used only one group and did not rename it, LiveCompare names the group’s section Parameters. Apps that you registered in a release of LiveCompare without parameter groups also have a single Parameters section.

If an app doesn’t have any parameters, the Variant screen doesn’t include a Parameters section.

Specify parameter values

The input parameters for a variant are listed in the Variant screen’s sections. Set the parameter values for a variant as follows:

AAQ Select List parameters

If an AAQ Select List parameter has been added to an app, the Variant screen displays the number of items in the AAQ Select List. To modify an AAQ Select List parameter, click Edit.

Boolean parameters

Boolean parameters are displayed in variants as dropdown lists. To modify a Boolean parameter, select either true or false from the dropdown list.

External Data Source parameters

External Data Source parameters are displayed in variants as dropdown lists. To modify an External Data Source parameter, select an External Data Source from the dropdown list. If LiveCompare is Resource Group-controlled, the External Data Sources available to a variant are limited to those in the currently selected Resource Group.

If the External Data Source specified in a variant is not available, the External Data Source’s dropdown list will be blank. In this case, you will need to select a valid External Data Source from the dropdown list before running the variant.

IMG Select List parameters

If an IMG Select List parameter has been added to an app, the Variant screen displays the number of items in the IMG Select List. To modify an IMG Select List parameter, click Edit.

Integer, Float, String and String Multiline parameters

Integer, Float, String and String Multiline parameters are displayed in variants as single fields. To modify each of these parameter types, enter a new value (or values) into the field. If an invalid entry is made in an Integer or Float field, a message box is displayed, and the cursor is returned to the field so that the entry may be corrected.

LUX parameters

LUX parameters are displayed in variants as dropdown lists. To modify a LUX parameter, select a new LUX from the dropdown list. Only valid LUXes are listed. If LiveCompare is Resource Group-controlled, the LUXes available to a variant are limited to those in the currently selected Resource Group.

If the LUX specified in a variant is not available, the LUX’s dropdown list will be blank. In this case, you will need to select a valid LUX from the dropdown list before running the variant.

Pair List parameters

If a Pair List parameter has been added to an app, the Variant screen displays the number of items in the Pair List. To modify a Pair List parameter click Edit.

RFC Destination parameters

RFC Destination parameters are displayed in variants as dropdown lists. To modify an RFC Destination parameter, select an RFC Destination from the dropdown list. If LiveCompare is Resource Group-controlled, the RFC Destinations available to a variant are limited to those in the currently selected Resource Group.

If the RFC Destination specified in a variant is not available, the RFC Destination’s dropdown list will be blank. In this case, you will need to select a valid RFC Destination from the dropdown list before running the variant.

ServiceNow parameters

ServiceNow parameters are displayed in variants as dropdown lists. To modify a ServiceNow parameter, select a ServiceNow from the dropdown list. If LiveCompare is Resource Group-controlled, the ServiceNows available to a variant are limited to those in the currently selected Resource Group.

Select List parameters

If a Select List parameter has been added to an app, the Variant screen displays the number of items in the Select List. To modify a Select List parameter click Edit.

String List parameters

If a String List parameter has been added to an app, the Variant screen displays the number of items in the String List. To modify a String List parameter click Edit.

Table Parameters

If a Table parameter has been added to an app, the Variant screen displays the number of rows in the Table. To modify a Table parameter click Edit.

Test Repository parameters

Test Repository parameters are displayed in variants as dropdown lists. To modify a Test Repository parameter, select a Test Repository from the dropdown list. If LiveCompare is Resource Group-controlled, the Test Repositories available to a variant are limited to those in the currently selected Resource Group.

If the Test Repository specified in a variant is not available, the Test Repository’s dropdown list will be set to --Not Selected--. In this case, you will need to select a valid RFC Destination from the dropdown list before running the variant.

Rich user interface controls

If rich user interface controls were specified when the app was registered, Boolean parameters may be displayed as switches, Integer and Float parameters may be displayed as sliders, and String parameters may be displayed as value lists, date fields or mask fields. The initial values for sliders, value lists, date fields and mask fields are validated as follows:

Sliders

If a value set in the registered workflow is outside the range of the slider, the value will still be displayed in the app’s edit control. However, adjusting the slider will reset the value.

Value Lists

If a value set in the registered workflow is not in the specified list of values, the app’s list box will be set to the first item in the value list.

Date fields

If a value set in the registered workflow is not a valid date, the app’s calendar control will be set to today’s date, and the edit field associated with the control will be blank. If the ‘Initialize with current date’ setting was selected when the app was registered, a newly opened variant will always display the current date, even if a previous date value has been saved in the variant.

Mask fields

If the value set in the registered app matches the mask pattern, it will be set in the edit field. Otherwise, the placeholder value will be set in the edit field when the field gains focus.

Distribute results

If LiveCompare’s email settings have been specified in the Configuration - Email screen, a variant may be configured to send its result to one or more email addresses when its execution has completed. Note that this feature is not available if the DisableAppNotifications field in the Configuration - Email screen is set to X.

The email sent by LiveCompare has the following format:

To: <Email Recipients>

Subject: LiveCompare App <App Name> has finished: <Variant Name>

LiveCompare App <App Name> has finished processing <Variant Name>.

The detailed report is here:

PLEASE DO NOT REPLY TO THIS EMAIL.

Help:

Input Parameters:

Help:

The parameter list includes the input parameters supplied to the app and their values, with the following limitations:

Data type	Limitation
Table	Shows only the first three columns of the first three rows.
String List	Shows up to three string values.
Select List	Shows only the FIELD, OP, LOW values of the first three list items.
AAQ Select List	Shows the first scenario id only.
IMG Select List	Shows internal CLASS and OBJECT values of the first three selections.

To configure the variant to send its results via email, enter one or more email addresses in the Distribute Results field, each separated by a comma or a space. When the execution of the variant has completed successfully, each user will receive an email which includes the variant’s result. Normally this will be the URL of a generated report.

Click Remove email button. if required to remove an email address from the distribution list.

Save variants

To save an existing variant, click Save. The variant is overwritten so that it stores the current set of parameter values and distribution email addresses, and the App Cockpit screen is displayed. Any results that have been generated for the variant won't be affected. Variants that have an execution status of ‘Running’ or ‘Queued’ may not be saved.

If necessary, click Cancel to discard any changes and return to the App Cockpit screen.

Run variants

To run a variant from the Variant screen, click Run. The variant is saved if necessary, and the workflow associated with the variant’s app is executed using the specified parameter values. The App Cockpit screen is displayed. Refresh the screen periodically to monitor the variant’s execution status.

Note that while a variant is running, it may not be renamed, and its parameter values may not be edited. While a variant is running, the Edit buttons for Pair List, Select List, String List and Table parameters in the Variant screen are renamed as View. Click the View button next to a parameter to display the parameter’s value.

If LiveCompare’s email settings have been specified in the Configuration - Email screen, an email will be sent to the user who executed the variant when the variant completes successfully, terminates with an error, or is aborted. This behavior may be disabled for all users by means of a registry setting on the LiveCompare server.

Abort variants

To abort a variant that is running or queued, click Abort Run in the Variant screen. Refresh the App Cockpit screen to update the variant’s execution status.

Rename variants

To rename a variant, click Rename variant. next to the variant name to display the Rename variant popup. Enter a new name for the variant, and then click OK. Changes to the variant name take effect when the variant is run or saved.

Navigation panel

The navigation panel is displayed on the left-hand side of each Apps screen, and includes the following icons:

Icon	Description
	Displays the LiveCompare help.
	Displays the Dashboard screen.
	Displays the Projects screen.
	Displays the My Reports utility.
	Displays the Apps Monitor screen.
	Displays the Usage Dashboard.
	Displays the Service Status screen.
	Displays the Apps screen.
	Displays the LiveCompare studio.
	Displays the Quick Compare Wizard.
	Displays the LUX utility.
	Displays the Data Cleanser utility.
	Displays the Contacts utility.

Header

If you have LiveCompare Editor or Consumer permissions, the header section includes a Select Project dropdown list box, which lets you select a project that LiveCompare will display in the Projects screen.

If LiveCompare is Resource Group-controlled, the header section contains a Select Resource Group dropdown list box, which lets you select a Resource Group. You can only access resources in the currently-selected Resource Group.

LiveCompare displays the following icons on the top right-hand side of the screen.

Icon	Description
	Accesses the Tricentis LiveCompare Consumers playlist from the Tricentis Academy.
	Displays help for the current screen.
	Displays the My Profile screen, showing your user profile.
	Signs you out of your current LiveCompare session.