Resolving Tab Switching and Window Closure Issues in Virtuoso

Article Overview:

This article will cover how you can achieve the following:

• Diagnose and resolve issues related to switching tabs in Virtuoso, particularly when encountering java.net.ConnectException error.
• Implementing the preventWindowClosescript to avoid unexpected window closures and ensure successful execution of steps in iframes.
  

Problem Statement:

If you experience failures when trying to switch to a specific tab within Virtuoso, encountering errors such as java.net.ConnectException: Failed to connect to localhost/... Despite following previous guidance to add a preventWindowClose step, users may still encounter this error, particularly on certain pages of their application. This issue occurs in both Live Authoring mode and during execution.

Solution:

• Step 1: Understand the Root Cause:

  • The error likely stems from the customer application’s handling of window closures, especially when interacting with elements inside iframes. If the window closes prematurely, the subsequent tab switch may fail because the target tab no longer exists.
    
    
• Step 2: Implementing preventWindowClose Correctly:

  • The preventWindowClose script must be executed from the root of the page or tab, not within an iframe. If the script is called within an iframe, it will malfunction, leading to the errors described.

  • Steps to Correctly Implement preventWindowClose:

    1. Ensure that the script is called from the page or tab root before interacting with elements in iframes.
    2. After the script is executed, switch back to the iframe that contains the target element (e.g., the "Finish" button) and then perform the necessary actions.
       
       

  • Example Implementation:

    ...
    Store element text of "..." in $LV_strAsprinMedClerk
    Switch to parent frame
    Switch to parent frame
    preventWindowClose
    Switch iframe to <target_iframe>
    Mouse click "Finish"
    ...

    
    
  • Here, the script is first executed at the page root, and then control is returned to the specific iframe where the "Finish" button resides.
    
    

• Step 3: Addressing Tab Switch Failures:

  • If the window is closed prematurely (e.g., if the "Finish" button triggers a window close action), the tab switch will fail because the tab no longer exists. This is why it’s crucial to prevent the window from closing before attempting to switch tabs.
    
    

  • Alternative Approach:
    Consider using a delayedWindowClose script after switching to the iframe. This allows the script to execute necessary actions (like clicking the "Finish" button) before the window is allowed to close.

• Final Step: Explanation:

  • If the issue persists, it may be due to how the user's application handles window closures. It's important to explain that executing scripts within iframes without managing window closure properly can lead to errors, as the expected tab or window may no longer be available when Virtuoso tries to switch to it.

Examples:

An issue was encountered where switching to a tab failed after a preventWindowClose script was executed within an iframe. By moving the script execution to the page root and ensuring the proper switching between frames, the error was successfully resolved.