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Drop-down ui automation

  • July 13, 2026
  • 6 replies
  • 133 views

How to automate this drop down to select 4 particular elements. Unable to get select item by text option after capturing the element

 

6 replies

Aaron.Gleason
Automation Anywhere Team
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  • Automation Anywhere Team
  • July 13, 2026

@soumyadeep_c Ah, when an element looks like a drop-down, but isn’t a drop-down, you cannot select it using standard methods.

That element is a complex combination of (I’m guessing from the photo):

  • An IFRAME
  • DIVs and SPANs
  • INPUT type of CHECKBOX
  • INPUT type of BUTTON or BUTTON tags
  • INPUT type of TEXT

All wrapped up with JavaScript. 

It will just take time to figure it out. When capturing an object, look closely at the type of object that was captured. You’re expecting a <SELECT><OPTION>… combination and that’s not what that is. 


PMosman
Navigator | Tier 3
  • Navigator | Tier 3
  • July 13, 2026

@soumyadeep_c I’ve found it helps me figure out recorder actions like these if I inspect the page itself.  Right click on the drop down and choose “Inspect” to open the  developer console.  Make sure you are on the “Elements” tab and then you can “watch” how the elements change as you select the choices in the drop down.  Also compare the elements, XPATH, selectors etc. between what was captured and what you see when you inspect the object.  This should help identify what properties to use when selecting your choices. 


  • Author
  • Navigator | Tier 3
  • July 16, 2026

@soumyadeep_c Ah, when an element looks like a drop-down, but isn’t a drop-down, you cannot select it using standard methods.

That element is a complex combination of (I’m guessing from the photo):

  • An IFRAME
  • DIVs and SPANs
  • INPUT type of CHECKBOX
  • INPUT type of BUTTON or BUTTON tags
  • INPUT type of TEXT

All wrapped up with JavaScript. 

It will just take time to figure it out. When capturing an object, look closely at the type of object that was captured. You’re expecting a <SELECT><OPTION>… combination and that’s not what that is.  This is the element for one of the dropdown option

 


Aaron.Gleason
Automation Anywhere Team
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  • Automation Anywhere Team
  • July 16, 2026

@soumyadeep_c Called it!  🤣

Yeah, you’ll have to build something manually for this Angular construct.


  • Author
  • Navigator | Tier 3
  • July 16, 2026

@soumyadeep_c Called it!  🤣

Yeah, you’ll have to build something manually for this Angular construct.

Like example?? Although I solved it using saved search feature available in the website but still curious to know 


Aaron.Gleason
Automation Anywhere Team
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  • Automation Anywhere Team
  • July 16, 2026

@soumyadeep_c Since this is in your environment, I can’t really give examples since I don’t have access to the page. This will require trial and error on your part.