Wrong text being input in Android device

Issues/Bugs
1

I am using ‘sendKeys’ function to input text in android device.

However, sometimes it inputs wrong text. This happens usually when it is trying to input an IP address.

I am using appium v1.5.3, device - Moto G2, OS - v6.0

Code being used :

if (element != null) {
element.clear();
element.sendKeys(value);
}

element is of type ‘MobileElement’

P.S. - This is also used to happen when I was using UIAutomator.

Any idea what’s going wrong here? This is not 100% reproducible. Happens 2/5.

2

try setValue. it is much more reliable. just had same.

3

I don’t see a ‘setValue’ function for MobileElement class or AndroidElement class.

The OS in question here is android.

4

this is valid for IOS only.

5

Exactly. Any help in Android? Not getting anything around this anywhere. I hope I am not the only one with this problem.

6

i made workaround for critical inputs like username in a way enter data, check data, set again if incorrect.

7

Agreed. I am doing the same. However, I would love to know why it inputs the wrong text? Is it device dependent? Or is it UIAutomator’s fault? Or is it an issue with the way OS is designed/call to input text is being made.
Can we fix it at the grass root level?

…and most importantly, has anyone else encountered this as well?

8

Any of these are possible, but based on gut feeling, I believe it’s likely device dependent and the way the device’s OS is built (which, in the Android world, usually refer to the device as a whole since OS and hardware are closely tied together). Does sendKeys send the wrong text on all the devices you have tried? I might recommend enabling Appium’s Unicode keyboard. There’s a “unicodeKeyboard” capability you can use when setting up your desired capabilities object: http://appium.io/slate/en/master/?ruby#android-only

1 Like
9

I’m not sure if this is the same problem, but some of my scripts clear out a search box before entering new criteria, and sometimes instead of clearing out the text, it selects some or all of the text, then backspaces a few times, then enters the new criteria, resulting in the wrong data being sent since not all of the original text was cleared out. I see this on my Galaxy S6 about 30% of the time.

10

I have seen it on multiple devices. And it does happen 2/5 times. It usually happens on Motorola device, which boast stock android OS. I will give a shot to ‘unicodeKeyboard’. Lets see if that helps. Thanks!

11

I haven’t seen this behavior. Appium might be trying to clear the text before typing again. You can always delve in the source code and check :slight_smile: