Select Element by Index

Purpose#

This action utilizes the Select class in Selenium WebDriver to choose an option from a dropdown by its index. The action selects an option based on its position within the dropdown list rather than its visible text, making it particularly useful for handling dynamic dropdowns.

Scenarios#

Scenario 1#

Title:#

Select an option from a dropdown using its index
Test case link: TEST-8003 Select Element by Index

Scenario Overview:#

A user needs to select an option from a dropdown where the visible text is dynamic or unknown. This scenario demonstrates using the "Select Element by Index" action to choose an option based on its index.

Steps to Follow:#

  1. Open a webpage with a dropdown menu.
  2. Identify the dropdown element using attributes such as id or class.
  3. Use the "Select Element by Index" action to specify the index of the desired option.
  4. Verify that the correct option is selected.

Actions:#

  • Input parameters:
    • Element parameter: Provide the element's attribute (e.g., id = continents).
    • Selenium action: select by index = 3.

Expected Result:#

  • The dropdown selects the option at index 3 (the fourth option in the list).

Common Errors and Fixes#

  • Error: The dropdown element is not found.
    • Fix: Ensure the correct attributes (e.g., id, class) are specified, and verify that the dropdown is visible.

Scenario 2#

Title:#

Attempt to select an invalid index
Test case link: TEST-8003 Select Element by Index

Scenario Overview:#

A user provides an invalid index (e.g., an index greater than the total number of options) to select in a dropdown. This scenario demonstrates how the action behaves in such situations.

Steps to Follow:#

  1. Open a webpage with a dropdown menu.
  2. Use the "Select Element by Index" action with an index that is out of range.
  3. Verify that an appropriate error message is logged or raised.

Actions:#

  • Input parameters:
    • Element parameter: Provide the element's attribute (e.g., id = continents).
    • Selenium action: select by index = 10.

Expected Result:#

  • An error message is logged, indicating that the provided index is invalid.

Common Errors and Fixes:#

  • Error: The index is out of range.
    • Fix: Ensure that the provided index is within the range of available options in the dropdown.

Test Cases#

Test Case for Scenario 1#

Objective:#

Ensure that selecting an option by index in a dropdown functions correctly.

Steps to Perform:#

  1. Open a browser and navigate to a webpage containing a dropdown.
  2. Use the action with inputs:
    • Element parameter: id = continents.
    • Selenium action: select by index = 2.
  3. Verify that the third option in the dropdown has been selected.

Expected Outcome:#

  • The dropdown selects the third option based on its index.

Test Case for Scenario 2#

Objective:#

Ensure that an appropriate error is logged when an invalid index is provided.

Steps to Perform:#

  1. Open a browser and navigate to a webpage containing a dropdown.
  2. Use the action with inputs:
    • Element parameter: id = continents.
    • Selenium action: select by index = 10.
  3. Verify that an error is logged, and the action does not select any option.

Expected Outcome:#

  • The action logs an error indicating that the index is out of range.

Additional Tips for this Action#

  • Use index-based selection when the visible text of options is dynamic or localized.
  • Verify the total number of options in the dropdown before specifying the index.
  • Use developer tools to verify the structure of the dropdown element.

Error Handling for Select Element by Index#

Common Problems and Their Fixes#

  1. Problem: The dropdown element is not found.
    Possible Cause: Incorrect attributes are provided, or the dropdown is hidden.
    How to Fix:

    • Ensure that the element's attributes match the actual HTML structure.
    • Confirm that the dropdown is visible.

  2. Problem: The index is out of range.
    Possible Cause: The provided index exceeds the number of options in the dropdown.
    How to Fix: Use a valid index within the range of the dropdown options.

  3. Problem: The action fails to select the desired option.
    Possible Cause: The index is incorrect, or the dropdown options have changed dynamically.
    How to Fix: Revalidate the dropdown options and the specified index before before executing the action.