Select Option

Select Option

Type: page-select  ·  Package: Browser v1.0.9

Chooses an option in an HTML drop-down list (<select>). The option is identified by its value (the value attribute of each <option>), by its visible text or by its position, according to by. It also supports multiple selection.

Native <select> only

This activity works with standard HTML drop-down lists (<select>). Many modern sites use “fake” drop-downs built with <div> and JavaScript: in those cases, don’t use Select Option; use a Click to open the drop-down and another Click on the option.

How it works

It locates the <select> by its selector, waits until it’s visible and enabled, and chooses the option that matches value according to by. It then fires the input and change events, as if the person had chosen it.

by says how value is read (since version 1.0.8; before, it only matched the value attribute):

by	In the Designer	value is…	For <option value="CO">Colombia</option>
value (default)	Value	The option’s value attribute, exact.	"CO"
label	Visible text	The text the person sees, exact.	"Colombia"
index	Position	The option’s position, starting at 0.	0 if it is the first one

• by is case-insensitive (Label works the same as label); empty means value.
• If the list is multiple (<select multiple>), pass a list in value to choose several (all read with the same by); those not in the list end up unselected.
• If no option matches, the activity keeps waiting for it to appear (lists that are filled after the page loads) and fails when timeout runs out.

Required parameters

Parameter	Type	Default	Description
selector	selector	—	The <select> element.
value	string | List	—	The option to choose: its value, its visible text or its position, according to by. For multiple selection, a list.

Optional parameters

Parameter	Type	Default	Description
page	ZoanPageSession	—	The page session. Omit it inside a body; outside, pass the session variable (e.g. page = page).
by	string	"value"	How value identifies the option: value · label · index (see table). Since version 1.0.8.
timeout	number	30000	Maximum time in ms to wait. Empty, 0 or negative: the project settings value or, if none, 30000.

Output

This activity does not return a value. To read the chosen option, use Get Value.

Example

Page Select   selector = (#pais)   value = "CO"                                  // <option value="CO">Colombia</option>
Page Select   selector = (#pais)   value = "Colombia"   by = label              // by the visible text
Page Select   selector = (#cuota)  value = 2            by = index              // the third option
Page Select   selector = (#moneda) value = cliente["moneda"]                    // value that comes from data
Page Select   selector = (#temas)  value = new List<string> { "rpa", "ai" }     // multiple selection
Page Get Value   selector = (#pais)   → output: paisElegido

Common errors

Message	Cause and fix
'value' is required.	value is empty.
Select failed: Timeout 30000ms exceeded. … | matches: 1 (…)	The <select> exists, but no option matches (most often: you passed the visible text without by = label, or the other way round), or the list is disabled. Check the options and by.
Select failed: … | matches: 0 (…)	It didn’t find the <select>. Check the selector.
Select failed: Error: Element is not a <select> element	The selector points to a drop-down built with <div>. Use Click to open it and choose.
'…' is not a valid option index: use a whole number starting at 0.	With by = index, value is not a whole number greater than or equal to 0.
'by' must be value, label or index (got '…').	by has another value. Pick one of the three.
'page' must be a ZoanPageSession.	page is empty outside a body.

Related activities

• Click — for non-native drop-downs (built with div/JS).
• Get Value — read the currently selected option.