Simulate TAB keypress event in Selenium RC

Question

I need to simulate a tab keypress in Selenium RC, using the Java API.

I do this after having entered some text using:

selenium.type(input, "mytext");

I've tried 3 alternatives to get the tab working:

selenium.keyPress(input, "\\9");

and:

selenium.focus(input);
selenium.keyPressNative("09");

and even:

selenium.getEval("var evt = window.document.createEvent('KeyboardEvent');evt.initKeyEvent ('keypress', true, true, window,0, 0, 0, 0,0, 9,0);window.document.getElementsByTagName('input')[2].dispatchEvent(evt);")

The best I can get is a "tab space" to be inserted after my text so I end up with this in the input field:

"mytext    "

What I actually want is to tab to the next control. Any clues? Thanks!

(Note: I have to use tab and can not use focus or select to chose the element I want to go to, for various reasons, so no suggestions along these lines please!)

Solution 1

selenium.keyPressNative(java.awt.event.KeyEvent.VK_TAB + ""); 

I don't use the Java API, but this post from google groups suggests it is your solution. I can't imagine that "9" is different from "09" in your question, but give it a try?

Solution 2

Try the official TAB char: \t or \u0009

Solution 3

Improvising Ryley's answer, we can use

selenium.keyDownNative(java.awt.event.KeyEvent.VK_TAB + "");
selenium.keyUpNative(java.awt.event.KeyEvent.VK_TAB + "");

I tried this method for VK_CONTROL in IE and it worked good.

Solution 4

Some functions may used Onblur. It will trigger the function when the field lose the key focus. here we can use fireEvent with "blur" or "focus" command as follows: command: fireEvent target: id=your_field_identification value: blur

Reference: http://qaselenium.blogspot.com/2011/01/how-to-triger-tab-key-in-selenium.html

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Comments

[Joel]

09 or 9, makes not difference I'm afraid.

[Ryley]

What happens if you don't focus first? i.e. just tab through the form, then enter something at the end (I'm not saying this will solve your problem, just curious)

[Merlyn Morgan-Graham]

@Joel: Please update the question to mention it. I don't see \t anywhere in there.

[Upperstage]

I found it necessary to focus and then tab to trigger a blur.