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Working with Tables in QWeb

Testing dynamic tables in standard Selenium usually requires brittle XPath loops like:

//table/tbody/tr[i]/td[j]

QWeb eliminates this complexity by introducing a Table Context system, where tables behave like coordinate grids.

Once a table is activated, all table keywords operate inside that context.

1. Activating a Table (UseTable)

Before interacting with any cells, you must define the active table using UseTable.

The table can be identified by:

  • A unique visible text (recommended)
  • An attribute value
  • An XPath locator (if necessary)
UseTable    Firstname

Using XPath:

UseTable    xpath=//table[@id\="users"]

After this, all table keywords operate within this table only.

2. Row Discovery (GetTableRow)

Often you don’t know which row a value appears in.

GetTableRow searches the active table and returns the row index.

${row}=    GetTableRow    Jim

Example return value:

3

Special Row Searches

Last row

${last}=    GetTableRow    //last

Skip header row

${row}=    GetTableRow    Jim    skip_header=True

Use skip_header=True when header rows are included in row counting.

3. Coordinate Syntax

Once a table is active, QWeb uses coordinate syntax to locate cells.

There are two coordinate modes.

A. Index-Based Coordinates

Format:

rXcY
  • r = row
  • c = column
  • <thead> is excluded from index counting

Example:

${status}=    GetCellText    r3c2

Negative Index Support

Pattern Meaning
r-1 Last row
r-2 Second last row
c-1 Last column

Example:

${latest}=    GetCellText    r-1c2

B. Text-Based Coordinates

Instead of numeric row indexes, you can search by content.

Row by text

r?Text

Example:

${value}=    GetCellText    r?Robot/c5

Meaning:

  • Find row containing "Robot"
  • Return value from column 5

Column by header text

Use / to switch to column selector:

${value}=    GetCellText    r?Robot/Status

Meaning:

  • Row containing "Robot"
  • Column whose header contains "Status"

Text-based column search includes <thead>.
Index-based search does not include <thead>.

4. Reading Data (GetCellText)

${value}=    GetCellText    r3c2
${value}=    GetCellText    r?Robot/Status

5. Clicking Cells (ClickCell)

ClickCell    r3c2
ClickCell    r?Robot/c3

If a cell contains multiple clickable elements:

ClickCell    r3c2    tag=input    index=2

6. Verifying Tables (VerifyTable)

VerifyTable    r2c3    jane.doe@example.com

Used to assert expected content across rows and columns.

7. Dynamic Lookup Example

Find the row with User X and verify their Status.

*** Test Cases ***
Verify User Status

    UseTable    Username
    ${status}=  GetCellText    r${row}/c?Status
    Should Be Equal    ${status}    Active

8. Iterating All Rows

UseTable    Username

${count}=    GetTableRow    //last    skip_header=True

FOR    ${i}    IN RANGE    1    ${count}+1
    ${status}=    GetCellText    r${i}/Status
    Should Be Equal    ${status}    Active
END

QWeb Table Keywords

Keyword Purpose
UseTable Activate a table context
GetTableRow Find row index by text or special locator
GetCellText Read cell value
ClickCell Click cell or child element
ClickCheckbox Toggle checkbox inside table
VerifyTable Verify table structure or content