Xpath vs. iOS Predicate

CrashTestDummy 2017-04-24 11:17:45 UTC #1

Appium 1.6.4, Xcode 8.2, iOS 9.3.5
Hey
I want find element by xpath
driver.findElementByXPath(//XCUIElementTypeNavigationBar/XCUIElementTypeButton[@visible="true"]);
How can I find this same element using iOS Predicate?

Aleksei 2017-04-24 11:43:36 UTC #2

something like:

driver.findElement(MobileBy.iOSNsPredicateString("type == 'XCUIElementTypeNavigationBar'")).
                findElement(MobileBy.iOSNsPredicateString("type == 'XCUIElementTypeStaticText' AND visible == 1"))

CrashTestDummy 2017-04-27 12:28:22 UTC #3

Thanks it is helpful

VikramVI 2017-06-30 11:07:48 UTC #4

Hey Aleksei,

I use arc for finding and interacting with mobile elements before using them in code.

In above case I would have used

@driver.find_element(:xpath, "//XCUIElementTypeButton[contains(@label,'create a site')"]

can you please clarify how to use MobileBy.iOSNsPredicateString in case of arc ?

Thanks,
Vikram

Aleksei 2017-06-30 11:32:15 UTC #5

@VikramVI examples are here

github.com

appium/appium/blob/master/docs/en/writing-running-appium/ios_predicate.md

## iOS Predicate

*NOTE*: iOS predicates are usable in iOS 9.3 and below using the `-ios uiautomation` locator strategy and they are usable in iOS 10 and above using the `-ios predicate string` locator strategy

It is worth looking at *'-ios uiautomation'* search strategy with **Predicates**.
[UIAutomation JavaScript API](https://developer.apple.com/library/ios/documentation/DeveloperTools/Reference/UIAutomationRef/) has following methods which can are very useful.

```center
(UIAElement) UIAElementArray.firstWithPredicate(PredicateString predicateString)
(UIAElementArray) UIAElementArray.withPredicate(PredicateString predicateString)
```

Native JS search strategy (powered by Apple) provides much more flexibility and is like Xpath.
**[Predicates](https://developer.apple.com/library/ios/documentation/Cocoa/Conceptual/Predicates/AdditionalChapters/Introduction.html)** can be used to restrict an elements set to select only those ones for which some condition is true.

'-ios uiautomation' example:

```java
// java
appiumDriver.findElementsByIosUIAutomation("collectionViews()[0].cells().withPredicate(\"ANY staticTexts.isVisible == TRUE\")");

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VikramVI 2017-06-30 11:41:02 UTC #6

Thanks but this page doesn't say how to use it with arc, have you tried using it with arc earlier ?

Regards,
Vikram

Aleksei 2017-06-30 12:01:34 UTC #7

@VikramVI sorry. "arc" is ?

VikramVI 2017-06-30 12:51:59 UTC #8

Appium Ruby Console https://github.com/appium/ruby_console

I use ARC for interrogating app and finding elements before using them in actual script.

Older version of Appium Desktop had feature where one can test element locator which is missing in newer version. Thus I find ARC useful to find whole page source and derive element locator out of it.

@Aleksei apologies for not giving enough info earlier.

Aleksei 2017-06-30 18:38:01 UTC #9

Sorry no idea for ruby. I am with java.

VikramVI 2017-07-04 08:29:19 UTC #10

@Aleksei got it working as

@driver.find_element(:predicate,"label=='Create a site'")

Can you clarify what technique do you use to explore native app and identify correct mobile elements' identifer ?

Thanks,
Vikram

Aleksei 2017-07-04 09:07:53 UTC #11

@VikramVI normally i use getPageSource for iOS as it is the only source what Appium sees. Where name tag is ID. Aslo i put myself any ID values needed to me both in Android and iOS client. IDs eliminate most problems how to find elements.

VikramVI 2017-07-04 09:31:21 UTC #12

@Aleksei Thanks for quick info, this is unique approach and makes automation tester's life much easier

I assume you put accessibility id for iOS and android:id for Android right ?

Aleksei 2017-07-04 10:04:31 UTC #13

@VikramVI yes. For iOS i put accessibility ids in two places: storyboard and sometimes of it not enough in code.

Also sometimes i do not see value of Text with iOS. I duplicate this into accesibility Value and see this in Value tag.

VikramVI 2017-07-04 11:05:12 UTC #14

Thanks a ton for detailed info. I will try to enforce this practice in my project as well.

Best Regards,
Vikram