dynamically finding checkbox in multi-select drop down

I am trying to click on a checkbox (that is a drop down in a multi-select). The problem is that the checkbox has no unique (valid) javascript ID.


Below is what I am trying in selenium and its failing. Any ideas? The product is using dotnetnuke which appears to have some unusual challenges with coding any type of gui automation. Thanks


Actual Element:

css=#dnn_ctr432_ViewMerchantWizard_MerchantWizard1_cbWizardPanel_ContactTab_ControlUC_ContactGrid_DXPEForm_efnew_EditContact1_ContactTypeCtrl_MultiSelectASPxDropDownEdit_DDD_DDTC_MultiSelectASPxListBox_LBI4T0 > input[type="checkbox"]


IDE command

xpath=//input[@type='checkbox'][contains(@id, 'ViewMerchantWizard_MerchantWizard1_cbWizardPanel_ContactTab_ControlUC_ContactGrid_DXPEForm_efnew_EditContact1_ContactTypeCtrl_MultiSelectASPxDropDownEdit_DDD_DDTC_MultiSelectASPxListBox_LBI4T0')]


HTML (IDE code)


mouseDown
xpath=//img[contains(@id, 'ViewMerchantWizard_MerchantWizard1_cbWizardPanel_ContactTab_ControlUC_ContactGrid_DXPEForm_efnew_EditContact1_ContactTypeCtrl_MultiSelectASPxDropDownEdit_B-1Img')]



click
xpath=//input[contains(@id, 'ViewMerchantWizard_MerchantWizard1_cbWizardPanel_ContactTab_ControlUC_ContactGrid_DXPEForm_efnew_EditContact1_ContactTypeCtrl_MultiSelectASPxDropDownEdit_DDD_DDTC_MultiSelectASPxListBox_LBI4T0 > input[type="checkbox"]')]

Is it failing because it is unable to locate the check box, or is it failing because it is unable to locate the drop down after the check box is selected?

Have you tried using clickAndWait instead of click? Sometimes adding that "AndWait" can help recognize the dropdown. I have also used the "waitForChecked" command to make sure the check box is selected before continuing.

the workflow is that I initially select the drop down, so I can find this piece the checkbox is embedded in the element...

There are several ways to find an element did you try them all ?
1. finding element by ID
2. finding element by name
3. finding element by link text
4. finding elements by accessing the DOM through JavaScript
5. finding element by XPath
6. finding element by css
7. finding elements by their attribute

Did I miss anything ?
I am pretty sure you can probably use something like this xpath=//div[@class='classname'] ---> that will work if the element have unique class and usually when everything else is the same the class is different. Developers also need to have something unique in their elements so I am sure that not everything is the same you just have to find the difference and use on of the above methods to select the element.