Document Conversions Test

A document converter is a custom executable file that takes a document of one file type, and generates a copy of that file in another file type. For example, a document converter might take a Microsoft Office Excel file and use it to generate a Microsoft Office PowerPoint file. Using document converters, you can transform your content into different versions to suit your business needs.

Because document conversions can be resource intensive, Office SharePoint Server 2007 relies on two services, DocConversionLoadBalancerService and DocConversionLauncherService, to manage the load balancing, prioritizing, and scheduling of the conversions. When a user initiates a document conversion, either through the user interface or object model, Office SharePoint Server 2007 passes the document conversion request to these two services. It is the DocConversionLauncherService service that actually calls the document converter. When called, the document converter takes the original file and generates a converted copy. Office SharePoint Server 2007 then takes the converted copy and performs certain post-processing actions on it. These actions include:

  • Adding the metadata from the original file to the converted copy.
  • Adding metadata that identifies the original file and document converter used to generate the converted copy.
  • Notifying the specified people that the conversion has been performed.
  • Placing the converted copy into the same document library as the original file.

This test monitors the document conversion process of the SharePoint server and enables administrators to determine how well the converter is able to process document conversion requests.

Target of the test : A Microsoft SharePoint Server

Agent deploying the test : An internal agent

Outputs of the test : One set of results each for the Microsoft SharePoint server that is being monitored

Configurable parameters for the test
Parameters Description

Test period

This indicates how often should the test be executed.

Host

The host for which the test is to be configured.

Port

The port at which the host server listens.
Measurements made by the test
Measurement Description Measurement Unit Interpretation

Incoming E-mail messages processed

Indicates the rate at which e-mail messages have been received and processed by SharePoint.

E-mails/Sec

 

Pending conversions

Indicates the number of document conversions that are currently pending.

Number

Ideally, the value of this measure should be low. A high value for the measure could indicate a processing bottleneck.