Python Selenium Webdriver - Try except loop

Question

I'm trying to automate processes on a webpage that loads frame by frame. I'm trying to set up a try-except loop which executes only after an element is confirmed present. This is the code I've set up:

from selenium.common.exceptions import NoSuchElementException

while True:
    try:
        link = driver.find_element_by_xpath(linkAddress)
    except NoSuchElementException:
        time.sleep(2)

The above code does not work, while the following naive approach does:

time.sleep(2)
link = driver.find_element_by_xpath(linkAddress)

Is there anything missing in the above try-except loop? I've tried various combinations, including using time.sleep() before try rather than after except.

Thanks

Yes, the idea is that it waits 2 seconds before trying again, unless there's something wrong in the implementation? — user3294195
– user3294195, Commented Mar 30, 2014 at 7:57
I think I was confused by the wording of "executes after an element is confirmed present". My previous comment was an error. — user849425
– user849425, Commented Mar 30, 2014 at 7:58
Are you sure that the exception that you would expect it to throw is occurring in the try block? — anon582847382
– anon582847382, Commented Mar 30, 2014 at 7:59
Yes. However, I've also tried except without explicitly referencing the exception. Still doesn't work... — user3294195
– user3294195, Commented Mar 30, 2014 at 8:01

neoascetic · Accepted Answer · 2022-11-28 07:56:59Z

36

The answer on your specific question is:

from selenium.common.exceptions import NoSuchElementException

link = None
while not link:
    try:
        link = driver.find_element_by_xpath(linkAddress)
    except NoSuchElementException:
        time.sleep(2)

However, there is a better way to wait until element appears on a page: waits

edited Nov 28, 2022 at 7:56

answered Mar 30, 2014 at 8:05

neoascetic

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1 Comment

user3294195 Over a year ago

This works perfectly...Thanks very much! Seems like the error had to do with the logic behind the iteration.

Charls · Accepted Answer · 2016-02-04 18:49:28Z

8

Another way could be.

from selenium.common.exceptions import TimeoutException
from selenium.webdriver.support import expected_conditions as EC
from selenium.webdriver.support.ui import WebDriverWait
from selenium.webdriver.common.by import By

try:
    element = WebDriverWait(driver, 2).until(
            EC.presence_of_element_located((By.XPATH, linkAddress))
    )
except TimeoutException as ex:
            print ex.message

Inside the WebDriverWait call, put the driver variable and seconds to wait.

edited Feb 4, 2016 at 18:49

answered Jan 19, 2016 at 23:01

Charls

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2 Comments

altabq Over a year ago

This does not work for me. Error message: NameError: global name 'TimeoutException' is not defined. I think for this example to work you'd at least need to import selenium and then replace line 5 by except selenium.common.exceptions.TimeoutException as ex:.

Charls Over a year ago

yes, you need. from selenium.common.exceptions import TimeoutException

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