How do I use Click Element function with robot framework when the element does not have id or name?

Question

I'm currently using the Selenium2Library in robot framework to automate some web tests. Currently, I'm having problems automating the click of a login button with the Click Element function.

This is the element I would like to use:

<a class="transparentBtn loginLink ng-scope" ng-click="commonService.gigyaRaasLogin()" translate="BTN_ADMIN_LOGIN_WATCHLIST">LOGIN</a>

and this is the xpath if I copy from the console: //*[@id="menu"]/div/div[5]/div/div/div[2]/ul/li[2]/a

I have trouble finding which locator to use if I want to click this element.

These are some of the things I've tried so far:

Click Element css=a.loginLink
Click Element link=LOGIN

Nope, didn't work. I got the same error as before: ValueError: Element locator 'xpath=//a[contains(text(), 'LOGIN')]' did not match any elements. — Zubair

Krisz Krisz · Accepted Answer · 2017-07-27T14:15:08

I recommend to be a bit more flexible. The good approach if you find the balance between define flexible and unique. Otherwise the smallest site change will breake your test.

Following example should match on the previous example:

Match on any link that contain LOGIN text

Click Element       //a[contains(text(),'LOGIN')]

Match on any element that contain LOGIN text

Click Element       //*[contains(text(),'LOGIN')]

Match on any element where the class attribute equal with "transparentBtn loginLink ng-scope"
```
Click Element       //a[@class="transparentBtn loginLink ng-scope"]
```

You can check multiple attributes at the same time

Click Element       //a[@class='transparentBtn loginLink ng-scope' and @ng-click='commonService.gigyaRaasLogin()']

You can use contains() to check if string part of the class attribute
```
Click Element       //a[contains(@class,'loginLink')]
```

How do I use Click Element function with robot framework when the element does not have id or name?

3 Answers