How to Save Apache JMeter Results to a CSV file or XML file?

Key takeaways

• CSV is smaller and easier to analyse; XML keeps full detail you rarely need.
• Write results to file rather than a listener, which is what keeps large runs stable.
• Decide which fields you save up front, because you cannot recover what was not written.

Here are details on how to save or export the results of your Apache JMeter test script to a CSV or XML file.

Setup

1. Open Apache JMeter (here is how to start Apache JMeter on Mac) and right click Test Plan and Add -> Threads (Users) -> Thread Group
2. Right click Thread Group and Add -> Samplers -> HTTP Request
3. Add example.com to the Server input field of the HTTP Request
4. Right click Thread Group and Add -> Listeners -> Aggregate Report

More details on how to load test a web server with Apache JMeter.

Save Apache JMeter Results to a CSV file

1. Configure the filename in the Filename field of the Aggregate Report
i.e.: [FULLPATH]/results.csv
where [FULLPATH] is the path on the disk to the directory where you want to save the Apache JMeter results.
2. Run the test script
Result
A file with the results.csv name should now be created at the path specified.

Save Apache JMeter Results to a XML file

1. Go in the Aggregate Report and click the Configure button
2. Check the Save as XML field in the top left corner.
3. Change the extension of the filename to XML i.e. [FULLPATH]/results.xml

Result
A file with the results.xml name should now be created at the path specified.

Save results to current test script location

If you want to use the current test script location as the destination of your Apache JMeter test scripts, you can follow the below steps:

1. Right click the Thread Group and Add -> Config Element -> User Defined Variables
2. Add a new variable called resultsfile and for the value use the following:

For CSV: ${__property(user.dir)}${__BeanShell(File.separator,)}result.csv
For XML: ${__property(user.dir)}${__BeanShell(File.separator,)}result.xml

(make sure the Save to XML is checkbox checked in the Aggregate Report)

3. Go to the Aggregate Report and add the ${resultsfile} in the Filename field.

Result
A file with the results.csv or results.xml name should now be created at the path specified.

Dynamic Filenames

In order not to overwrite the result values from the JMeter script, we can append a timestamp to the filename:

For CSV: ${__property(user.dir)}${__BeanShell(File.separator,)}result_${__time(yyyyMMdd-HHmmss)}.csv
For XML: ${__property(user.dir)}${__BeanShell(File.separator,)}result_${__time(yyyyMMdd-HHmmss)}.xml

(make sure the Save to XML is checked in the Aggregate Report)

Apache JMeter note:
Don’t use GUI mode for load testing, only for Test creation and Test debugging!
For load testing, use NON GUI Mode & adapt Java Heap to your test requirements

Frequently Asked Questions

Should I save results as CSV or XML?

CSV in almost every case. It is far smaller and easier to analyse. XML keeps detail such as full response bodies, which is occasionally useful for debugging and expensive the rest of the time.

Why write to a file rather than use a listener?

Because listeners hold results in memory and are what makes long runs unstable. Writing to file is what lets a large test finish.

Can I add fields later?

No. You cannot recover what was never written, so decide which fields you save before a long run rather than after it.

Related reading

• How to Use CSV Data Set to Configure JMeter Tests
• Using CSV Data in JMeter Tests
• Introduction to Apache JMeter Performance Testing

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