Resolving Issues with Retrieving “Content-Desc” Attribute in Appium

10 November 2024 Stephan Petzl Leave a comment Tech-Help

When working with Appium to automate tests on Android devices, you might encounter issues retrieving the “content-desc” attribute from UI elements. This attribute is crucial for identifying and interacting with elements, especially when other identifiers are unavailable. In this article, we will explore solutions to effectively access the “content-desc” attribute.

Understanding the Problem

The challenge arises when Appium successfully locates elements by class name but fails to retrieve the “content-desc” attribute, resulting in an error message similar to:

      org.openqa.selenium.NoSuchElementException: An element could not be located on the page using the given search parameters.
    

Solution: Using Alternative Attribute Names

One effective approach to this problem is to use the “name” attribute instead. This can be implemented in your code as follows:

      
        List arrayOfProperties2 = driver.findElementsByClassName("android.view.View");
        for (WebElement property : arrayOfProperties2) {
            String contentDesc = property.getAttribute("name");
            if (contentDesc.contains("property")) {
                // Add your logic here
            }
        }
      
    

This method leverages the “name” attribute, which, in some cases, serves as a reliable alternative to “content-desc”. This approach has been proven effective in various scenarios, providing a straightforward solution to the issue.

Exploring Accepted Attribute Names

It’s also beneficial to be aware of the list of accepted attribute names, which can be categorized into boolean and string attributes:

• Boolean Attributes: enabled, checkable, checked, clickable, focusable, focused, longClickable, scrollable, selected, displayed
• String Attributes: contentDescription, text, className, resourceId

Understanding these attributes can guide you in selecting the most appropriate one for your testing needs.

Enhancing Test Automation with Repeato

While Appium is a robust tool for automation, it can sometimes be slow and lead to unstable tests, particularly when handling complex scenarios. This is where Repeato comes into play. As a No-code test automation tool for iOS and Android, Repeato offers a more efficient solution by allowing you to create, run, and maintain tests swiftly. Its use of computer vision and AI ensures that tests are not only faster to set up but also run significantly quicker than traditional methods.

For more insights on setting up Appium and overcoming common challenges, you can explore our detailed guides on Automating Google Instant Apps with Appium and Setting Up Your Appium Environment for Android Automation.

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