while

Automation Guide

Action-based testing language

Built-in actions

Test Support actions

Control Flow

while

Description

Denotes the beginning of a while/end while loop. Evaluates a conditional expression to determine whether execution is to continue with the action lines directly below it, or with the lines following the matching end while.

Arguments

condition to run
Expression which, when evaluated to True, allows control to proceed to the succeeding action lines. When evaluated to False, control passes to the first action line following the associated end while.

Valid contexts

This action may be used within the following project items: test modules and user-defined actions.

Notes

This action ignores letter case for values of True and False, and is unaffected by the current state of the case sensitive built-in setting.
It is acceptable to use numeric expressions in thecondition to runargument. TestArchitect treats the value 0 as False, and 1 as True. Note that an error is generated for any other numeric value.

The following operators may be used within an expression in thecondition to run argument:

Table 1. Comparison operators

Precedence	Comparison operator	Meaning
4	=	equal to
4	<>	not equal to
4	>	greater than
4	>=	greater than or equal to
4	<	less than
4	<=	less than or equal to

Table 2. Logical operators

Precedence	Logical operator	Meaning
5	not	Value is TRUE if its operand is FALSE.
6	and	Value is TRUE if and only if both sides of the and operator are TRUE.
7	or	Value is TRUE if either side of the or operator is TRUE.

Note:

For the full list of operator precedence, see [here](/automation-guide/action-based-testing-language/the-test-language/operator-precedence).

Be careful when using while/end while loops, and in the expressions you use for condition to run. An infinite loop may cause the TA Playback tool to hang.
To exit a while/end while loop from within the block of action lines, use the built-in action exit loop.