How to get all elements into list or string with Selenium using C#?

Question

I've tried using WebElement (and IWebElement) and string lists, but I keep getting errors. How can I get a list or strings of all the elements text by classname? I have all Selenium references. Do I need some java.util dll?

Should I implement a foreach loop?

IList<IWebElement> all = new IList<IWebElement>();
all = driver.FindElements(By.ClassName("comments")).Text;

Error: Cannot create an instance of the abstract class or interface 'System.Collections.Generic.IList'

Error: 'System.Collections.ObjectModel.ReadOnlyCollection' does not contain a definition for 'Text' and no extension method 'Text' accepting a first argument of type

Answer 1

You can get all of the element text like this:

IList<IWebElement> all = driver.FindElements(By.ClassName("comments"));

String[] allText = new String[all.Count];
int i = 0;
foreach (IWebElement element in all)
{
    allText[i++] = element.Text;
}

Answer 2

Although you've accepted an answer, it can be condensed using LINQ:

List<string> elementTexts = driver.FindElements(By.ClassName("comments")).Select(iw => iw.Text);

Answer 3

1. You can't create an instead of IList<T>, you have to create an instance of class that implements the interface, e.g. List<T>:

   IList<IWebElement> all = new List<IWebElement>();
   

2. However, you need .Text of each IWebElement, so your list should probably be List<string>:

   IList<string> all = new List<string>();
   

3. Use foreach to add items into your list:

   foreach(var element in driver.FindElements(By.ClassName("comments"));
   {
       all.Add(element.Text);
   }
   

Answer 4

You can do it this way too, and it parses through the menu list and gets the list text.

IWebElement menuOptions;
menuOptions = _browserInstance.Driver.FindElement(By.XPath(".//*[@id='xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx']/ul[2]/li[3]"));
IList<IWebElement> list = menuOptions.FindElements(By.TagName("li"));

//// get the column headers
char[] character = "\r\n".ToCharArray();
string[] Split = menuOptions.Text.Split(character);

for (int i = 0; i < Split.Length; i++)
{
    if (Split[i] != "")
    {
        _log.LogEntry("INFO", "column Text", true,
                Split + " Text matches the expected:" + Split[i]);
    }
}

Answer 5

I have used this form

    public List<string> GetValidations()
    {
        IList<IWebElement> elementList = _webDriver.FindElements(By.Id("validationList")); // note the FindElements, plural.
        List<string> validations = new List<string>();
        foreach (IWebElement element in elementList)
        {
            validations.Add(element.ToString());
        }
        return validations;
    }