GetValue returns different results when using different browsers and non-existing attribute

[Andrei]

Hi all,

the following piece of code returns different result on IE9 and FireFox14 browsers when attribute does not exist for specified element:

HtmlControl control = Get(xpath, browser, errorMessage).As<HtmlControl>();
string returnValue = control.GetValue<string>(attribute.ToString().ToLower());
return returnValue;

on IE9  returnValue is equal to '' (empty string)
and on FireFox it is equal to 'null' (this is not NULL reference, this is a string 'null')

This function has the following remark:

Remarks:
The property is retrieved by executing Javascript on the client side using the specified property name as the Javascript function.

so I suppose it "forwards" the result from browser that executes Javascript.

However, I expect methods to be browser-independent -> return the same result irrespectively of browser that is used.

Can you please comment whether:
1. I'm doing something wrong
2. this should be treated as a defect that will be fixed some day
3. this should be treated as a defect that will be never fixed
4. this is a feature (please explain why)

[Plamen]

Hi Andrei,

I am sorry to hear you are running into this problem. Unfortunately, the returned value is not "browser-independent". Test Studio simply takes the result from the JavaScript function and this result can be different in different browsers. We also have a section that gives some examples of Browser Inconsistencies. This article describes a similar problem with an HTML Button.

If you are experiencing any difficulties with this behavior, please provide a sample site, a code block, and a deeper explanation of what you're trying to test and we'll try to find a workable solution for you.

All the best,
Plamen
the Telerik team