Xpath in Keyword Test, How to identify and perform operation on it ?

[Vallalarasu_P]

How to find the object using xpath expression and performing operation on the found object ?

[cunderw]

I would highly advise against using Xpath in Test Complete and stick with the build object find methods and name mapping. What is the use case for wanting Xpath?

[tristaanogre · Accepted solution]

I agree with @cunderw .  Unless ABSOLUTELY necessary, you don't need to use XPath expressions to find objects in TestComplete tests.

IF, however, you need to....

1) Use "Call Object Method" operation in Keyword test to call the XPath method on your parent object

2) USe "Set Variable Value" operation to set the "Last Operation Result" to the value of your variable

3) Use that variable in code expressions and such within your keyword tests to identify your object

It's point 3 which makes using XPath expressions in keyword tests VERY cumbersome because you can't just use "On screen action"... everything needs to be a code snippet or code expression from that point onwards.  You might as well write in code rather than a keyword test.

[Vallalarasu_P]

Is the below steps possible in Keyword test

1) Maintaining Xpath in an external file (Excel or csv) / Project Variables for the list of object.

2) Creating a keyword test (XPathObject- Based on below steps)  to parametrize the Xpath value 

3) Calling the Keyword test (XpathObject) in each step of the test. 

Another option is, How to use FindChildbyxpath  in Script test and parametrizing it throught out the keyword test .

Regards

Valla

[tristaanogre]

Yes, you can.  But again, USING the resulting XPath object and interacting with it via Click or Keys or other onscreen actions is a matter of running code snippets WITHIN the keyword test... that's really the only way to do it.  So, for that, if you MUST use XPath, it's best to write all your automation using a script language... just saves the headache, IMO.

Which begs the question: Why are you using XPath instead of NameMapping?