Gatling Convert From Loadrunner

Convert a LoadRunner script to a Gatling simulation

Instructions

Step 1: Find the LoadRunner script, configuration, and parameters files

• Search for LoadRunner script files:
  • Action.c, vuser_init.c, vuser_end.c: the standard three-file layout
  • Any .c or .h files in a LoadRunner script directory (look for a .usr or .lrs descriptor file nearby)
  • A single combined .c file containing all sections
• If multiple scripts or directories are found, ask the user to specify which one to convert
• Read all relevant .c and .h files before proceeding
• Read all relevant .dat files as plain text files
• Search for a default.cfg file in the same directory and read it if present
• Search for a .prm file in the same directory and read it if present

Step 2: Specify output

Either find an existing Gatling project or initialize a new one:

• Try to find an existing project with the /gatling:gatling-detect-existing-project skill
• If no existing project is found, offer to create a new one with the /gatling:gatling-bootstrap-project skill

Step 3: Conversion

• Convert the LoadRunner script to a Gatling test written in the specified language
• Write the output to the appropriate source directory of the Gatling project

Preamble

Java SDK

IF a variable needs to be saved inside the function AND the function is used within an Expression Language string:

• Move the code to an exec block that allows saving variables

When parsing dates, use java.time.format.DateTimeFormatter.ofPattern with system default zone and store it outside a function to avoid creation cost overhead.

For regular expression, use java.util.regex.Pattern.compile and store it outside a function to avoid creation cost overhead.

Gatling DSL

Be aware of DSL differences between all the languages Gatling support.

Some methods needs to be followed by .on() in Java, JavaScript and Kotlin but not Scala:

• exitBlockOnFail { ... }: exitBlockOnFail().on(...)
• group("name") { ... }: group("name").on(...)
• All loops, etc.

Session handling is different, e.g.:

• session.getString("name") in Java, JavaScript and Kotlin, session("name").as[String] in Scala

Script structure

A LoadRunner script has up to three logical sections. Map them as follows:

• vuser_init: before block on the simulation
• Action: one or more scenario + exec
• vuser_end: after block on the simulation

If the script only has an Action section (or a single .c file), produce a simulation with just a scenario.

Runtime settings from default.cfg

IF a default.cfg file is present for runtime settings that affects HTTP behavior:

Check the [General] section:

• AutomaticTransactions=1 and/or AutomaticTransactionsPerFunc=1: LoadRunner can auto-wrap actions or function calls into transactions. In Gatling, scenario and request names serve this purpose directly; no group() blocks are needed here
• DefaultRunLogic: read the file, check RunLogicActionOrder in the [RunLogicRunRoot] section actions order, chain them with exec
• ContinueOnError=1: add exitHereIfFailed() between requests, otherwise Gatling continues on error by default; mention this to the user
• FailTransOnErrorMsg=1: apply the logic of lr_error_message as Gatling checks if possible, wrap the transaction inside a exitBlockOnFail() block

Check the [ThinkTime] section:

• Options=NOTHINK: keep pauses times but add .disablePauses() to setUp
• Options=RECORDED: keep pauses times
• Options=MULTIPLY: keep original pauses times, Gatling does not have a direct equivalent; mention this to the user
• Options=RANDOM: keep pauses times, use ThinkTimeRandomLow and ThinkTimeRandomHigh, add .uniformPauses() to setUp with the closest number that matches the original plus or minus values

Check the [WEB] section:

• CustomUserAgent: add .userAgentHeader() to httpProtocol
• SearchForImages=1: add .inferHtmlResources() to httpProtocol

HTTP requests

• web_url(name, url, ...): http(name).get(url)
• web_submit_data(name, ...): http(name).post(url).formParam(...)
• web_submit_form(name, ...): http(name).post(url).formParam(...)
• web_custom_request(name, method, url, ...): http(name).httpRequest(method, url)
• web_add_header(name, value): .header(name, value)
• web_add_auto_header(name, value): httpProtocol.header(name, value) or per-request .header(name, value)

web_add_header is one-shot: it applies only to the immediately following request, then is cleared; never hoist it into httpProtocol. web_add_auto_header persists from the point of the call onward. If it appears before any request in the script, map it to httpProtocol.header(...); if it appears mid-script, add .header(...) to each request that follows it.

For web_submit_data, extract each ITEMDATA name/value pair as a .formParam(name, value).

Response checks and correlation

• web_reg_find(text=...): .check(bodyString.contains(...))
• web_reg_save_param(param, LB=, RB=): .check(regex("LB(.*?)RB").saveAs("param"))
• web_reg_save_param_ex(...): .check(regex(...).saveAs(...)) or .check(xpath(...))
• web_reg_save_param_json(...): convert QueryString to jmesPath as .check(jmesPath(...))

Place .check(...) calls on the request that triggers the response being checked. web_reg_* functions are registered before the request they apply to, find the next web_url/web_submit_data and attach the check there.

Parameters and session variables

• {ParamName} (LR parameter substitution): #{paramName} (Gatling EL)
• lr_save_string(value, "param"): .exec(session -> session.set("param", value))
• lr_param_sprintf("param", fmt, ...): .exec(session -> session.set("param", ...)) with string formatting
• lr_eval_string("{param}"): session.getString("param") or "#{param}" in EL strings

For parameter files (.dat files referenced in the script or .usr descriptor), convert them to Gatling feeders. Copy the data file to the Gatling project's resources directory.

IF a .prm file is present, check it for each [parameter:<parameter name>] entries:

• ColumnName="Col <number>":
• ColumnName="<column name>":
• Delimiter="<char>": use csv, tsv, or separatedValues("<file path>", '<char>')
• SelectNextRow="Random": use .random()
• SelectNextRow="Same line as <parameter name>": ensure configuration is the same as <parameter name>
• SelectNextRow="Sequential": use .circular()
• SelectNextRow="Unique": use .queue() but it has no real Gatling equivalent; mention this to the user

Transactions

In LoadRunner, transactions are the only way to name and track individual requests, so developers routinely wrap every single request in a transaction. In Gatling, HTTP requests are named and tracked individually in reports, making single-request groups redundant.

Apply this rule when mapping lr_start_transaction / lr_end_transaction pairs:

• Single-request transaction (the block contains exactly one HTTP request and no nested transactions): drop the group() wrapper entirely. Use the transaction name as the http("name") request name instead.
• Multi-request transaction (the block contains more than one HTTP request, nested transactions, think times, or session logic): map to a group("name") block as usual.

When FailTransOnErrorMsg=1 applies to a single-request transaction, wrap the request directly in exitBlockOnFail() without a surrounding group().

Logging

• lr_output_message, lr_log_message: remove these or convert to a comment, Gatling handles logging at the framework level
• lr_error_message: keep, wrap inside an exec block with session and use .markAsFailed() on session if necessary

Rendezvous points

• lr_rendezvous("name"): remove, Gatling does not have a direct equivalent; mention this to the user if present

Resource files

Any files referenced in the script (e.g., request body files, upload files, data files) should be copied to the Gatling project's resources directory and referenced via RawFileBody("filename") or a feeder.

Step 4: Verify the code compiles

Use the build-tool skill if available.

Step 5: Post conversion

After the conversion, inform the user of:

1. Any LoadRunner features that have no direct Gatling equivalent (rendezvous points, IP spoofing, etc.) and suggest alternatives
2. Any hardcoded credentials or environment-specific values found in the script that should be parameterized
3. Possible Gatling-idiomatic improvements, such as:
   • Extracting the HttpProtocol configuration (base URL, common headers) into a shared httpProtocol object
   • Replacing repeated formParam blocks with a map if there are many parameters
   • Using feeders for any remaining hardcoded user data