Trouble locating element

Question

I'm testing an application and in the application there is a table containing checkboxes (3 rows, x columns). Below is the html for part of this table (1row). I'm trying to click on the text of one of these items to either select or deselect a checkbox based on the text. So for example, I want to click on the text 'Text next to checkbox for nr 8' in order to select that textbox. However, I don't want to go there via a hard xpath using code like /table/tbody/tr[2]/td[2]/div/span)[2] but based on the text. I'm trying code like the ones below but they don't seem to work:

driver.findElement(By.xpath("(//*[@class='settingsPanelTD' and text()='Text next to checkbox for nr 8']")).click();
driver.findElement(By.xpath("(//*[@class='settingswidgetTitle' and text()='Text next to checkbox for nr 8']")).click();
driver.findElement(By.xpath("(//*[@class='settingswidgets' and text()='Text next to checkbox for nr 8']")).click();

I would like to create a string for the final xpath so you only have to change the text you'd like to click to change the test, something like:

String text = "Text next to checkbox for nr 8"; /** variable text based on what you want to click */
String locator = "//*[@class='settingswidgets' and text()='";
String xpathitem = locator + text + "']";
driver.findElement(By.xpath(xpathitem)).click();

This is the HTML:

<td class="settingsPanelTD" width="33%">
<div class="settingwidgetsTitle">
    <input id="widgetsettings8" class="settingwidgets" type="checkbox" alt="2">
    <span>Text next to checkbox for nr 8</span>
    <a class="AddWidget" href="#"></a>
</div>
</td>
<td class="settingsPanelTD" width="33%">
<div class="settingwidgetsTitle">
    <input id="widgetsettings9" class="settingwidgets" type="checkbox" alt="2">
    <span>Text next to checkbox for nr 9</span>
    <a class="AddWidget" href="#"></a>
</div>
</td>
<td class="settingsPanelTD" width="33%">
<div class="settingwidgetsTitle">
    <input id="widgetsettings9" class="settingwidgets" type="checkbox" alt="2">
    <span>Text next to checkbox for nr 10</span>
    <a class="AddWidget" href="#"></a>
</div>
</td>

I'm using eclipse, Selenium and Java.

gtlambert · Accepted Answer · 2015-10-26 13:11:22Z

1

The XPaths you are using are incorrect. The third XPath you are using is closest to the correct solution:

//*[@class='settingswidgets' and text()='Text next to checkbox for nr 8']

In plain English, your XPath means - look for any element in the document with a class="settingswidgets" and text equal to Text next to checkbox for nr 8. Unfortunately, no such element exists.

One potential XPath you could use is:

//span[text()="Text next to checkbox for nr 8"]

This searches for any span element with the appropriate text.

You could then use:

String text = "Text next to checkbox for nr 8";
String locator = "//span[text()='";
String xpathitem = locator + text + "']";
driver.findElement(By.xpath(xpathitem)).click();

This should generate the desired click.

answered Oct 26, 2015 at 13:11

gtlambert

12k2 gold badges32 silver badges48 bronze badges

Sign up to request clarification or add additional context in comments.

1 Comment

Hugo Over a year ago

Thanks! that worked like a charm. Didn't know you could use span text too. Still new at this and learning.

Devang · Accepted Answer · 2015-10-26 13:51:55Z

0

I don't have enough reputation to add comment but in case you are unable to select option by clicking Span tag you need to click on input tag

ArrayList<WebElement> al=new ArrayList<WebElement>(); driver.findElements(By.className("settingwidgetsTitle"));

for(int i=0;i<al.size();i++){ if(driver.findElement(By.xpath(".//div[@class='settingwidgetsTitle']/span")).getText().equals("Option to Select")){

driver.findElement(By.xpath(".//div[@class='settingwidgetsTitle']["+i+"] /input").click()); break; }}

answered Oct 26, 2015 at 13:51

Devang

3853 gold badges6 silver badges28 bronze badges

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

Trouble locating element

2 Answers 2

1 Comment

Comments

Your Answer

Hot Network Questions

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

2 Answers 2

1 Comment

Comments

Your Answer

Sign up or log in

Post as a guest

Related