How to append text to a text field

Support
1

In Appium 1.7.2 element.setValue() would append to a field. But it looks like after that, setValue replaces data in the field. sendKeys() also does this. I have a need to type a few characters, wait, then type a few more characters without clearing the field. We should be able to support this some way or another (btw… need to do this in Android and iOS).

2

I’ve also tried this, but unfortunately get an Unsupported exception

Keyboard keyboard = getTravelerClient().getAppDriver().getKeyboard();
keyboard.sendKeys("Hello");
keyboard.sendKeys("World");
3

I don’t like it (since it’s harder to abstract), but this is a ‘meh’ workaround and only works for Android

element.click();

((AndroidDriver) getTravelerClient().getAppDriver()).pressKey(new KeyEvent(AndroidKey.F).withMetaModifier(KeyEventMetaModifier.SHIFT_ON));
((AndroidDriver) getTravelerClient().getAppDriver()).pressKey(new KeyEvent(AndroidKey.O));
((AndroidDriver) getTravelerClient().getAppDriver()).pressKey(new KeyEvent(AndroidKey.O));

// DO STUFF HERE

((AndroidDriver) getTravelerClient().getAppDriver()).pressKey(new KeyEvent(AndroidKey.B));
((AndroidDriver) getTravelerClient().getAppDriver()).pressKey(new KeyEvent(AndroidKey.A));
((AndroidDriver) getTravelerClient().getAppDriver()).pressKey(new KeyEvent(AndroidKey.R));
4

try W3C actions: new Actions(driver).sendKeys(string)

5

Worked great for Android. Any reason why WDA doesn’t support it?

org.openqa.selenium.WebDriverException: An unknown server-side error occurred while processing the command. Original error: Error Domain=com.facebook.WebDriverAgent Code=1 "Only actions of 'pointer' type are supported. 'key' is given instead for action with id 'default keyboard'" UserInfo={NSLocalizedDescription=Only actions of 'pointer' type are supported. 'key' is given instead for action with id 'default keyboard'}
Build info: version: '3.12.0', revision: '7c6e0b3', time: '2018-05-08T14:04:26.12Z'
System info: host: 'bedouglas-mac', ip: 'fe80:0:0:0:cbc:ad00:a180:4b3c%en0', os.name: 'Mac OS X', os.arch: 'x86_64', os.version: '10.13.6', java.version: '1.8.0_181'
Driver info: io.appium.java_client.TAIOSDriver
Capabilities {app: https://qa.hq.internalhl.co..., automationName: XCuiTest, browserName: , bundleId: com.tripadvisor.prerelease, clearSystemFiles: true, databaseEnabled: false, deviceName: a8df4ebf42788c3645264c4cb3b..., fullReset: true, javascriptEnabled: true, locationContextEnabled: false, networkConnectionEnabled: false, newCommandTimeout: 45, noReset: false, platform: MAC, platformName: iOS, platformVersion: ANY, preventWDAAttachments: true, sendKeyStrategy: grouped, server:CONFIG_UUID: 0d7b545b-a524-4e0c-9fb4-505..., simpleIsVisibleCheck: true, systemPort: 7838, takesScreenshot: true, tripadvisor:platformType: Phone, tripadvisor:testng.hostname: bedouglas-mac, tripadvisor:testng.session.hash: dec7ab29-f4fe-4a58-b954-28c..., tripadvisor:testng.suite: Default Suite, tripadvisor:testng.test: setupClient, udid: a8df4ebf42788c3645264c4cb3b..., updatedWDABundleId: com.tripadvisor.qa.WebDrive..., useNewWDA: true, wdaLocalPort: 7838, webStorageEnabled: false, xcodeOrgId: 24X86T8MC6, xcodeSigningId: iPhone Developer}
Session ID: 61656578-39a4-4389-8510-7f2143232881
6

This is the limitation of XCTest framework. Although, the keyboard is accessible on iOS, so you could simply tap the corresponding keys by locating them