# Can I read and process all values in a pulldown list? **URL:** \ **Category:** Eggplant Functional\ **Created:** [February 22, 2010, 12:48am UTC](https://forums.eggplantsoftware.com/t/can-i-read-and-process-all-values-in-a-pulldown-list/2561 "2010-02-22T00:48:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![swebsurf](https://forums.eggplantsoftware.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/s/e99b99/32.png) [@swebsurf](https://forums.eggplantsoftware.com/u/swebsurf)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2010, 12:48am UTC](https://forums.eggplantsoftware.com/t/can-i-read-and-process-all-values-in-a-pulldown-list/2561/1 "2010-02-22T00:48:40Z")
Hi, I am testing a web app that contains a pulldown list of dynamic unpatterned values, eg, ‘201’,‘30.2’,‘ALT’; the length of the list at runtime is unknown. I would like to be able to read the values in that pulldown list into a container and loop through the values in the container, entering them in a text field on the screen. I guess the basic questions are: 1 - how can i read the values from a pulldown list? 2 - how can i tell how long the list is? thanks, swebsurf ps: Great forum! ---
**Author:** ![EggplantMatt](https://forums.eggplantsoftware.com/user_avatar/forums.eggplantsoftware.com/eggplantmatt/32/3_2.png) [@EggplantMatt](https://forums.eggplantsoftware.com/u/EggplantMatt)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2010, 9:23am UTC](https://forums.eggplantsoftware.com/t/can-i-read-and-process-all-values-in-a-pulldown-list/2561/2 "2010-02-22T09:23:36Z")
Actually reading text from the screen is not a strength of eggPlant – it’s sometimes possible to do, but it requires a bit of work to set up. If you can’t select the text and copy it to the clipboard (usually not possible with a drop down list), then it’s preferable to access the same source material that is generating the list. If the data comes from a text file, it’s easy to iterate over the values in the file and pass those data to a TypeText command or use those data to generate Text Images. Or if the data is in a database, and the database can be queried via the command line, then you can use the Shell command to make a call to the database to get the values. ---
**Author:** ![coolmahen](https://forums.eggplantsoftware.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/c/f9ae1b/32.png) [@coolmahen](https://forums.eggplantsoftware.com/u/coolmahen)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2010, 11:43am UTC](https://forums.eggplantsoftware.com/t/can-i-read-and-process-all-values-in-a-pulldown-list/2561/3 "2010-02-22T11:43:38Z")
Matt, It will be helpful if you explain little more on database connectivity for fetching data as you mentioned “If the data is in a database, and the database can be queried via the command line, then you can use the Shell command to make a call to the database to get the values” ---
**Author:** ![coolmahen](https://forums.eggplantsoftware.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/c/f9ae1b/32.png) [@coolmahen](https://forums.eggplantsoftware.com/u/coolmahen)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2010, 12:02pm UTC](https://forums.eggplantsoftware.com/t/can-i-read-and-process-all-values-in-a-pulldown-list/2561/4 "2010-02-22T12:02:12Z")
```auto params b SetOption ImageSearchCount,1 If ImageFound (b) then Click b else If ImageFound ("vscroll") -- vertical Scroll bar then DragAndDrop "vscroll","uparrow_max" -- drag the scroll bar to top most point If ImageFound(b) then Click b else repeat until ImageFound("vdown_arrow_max") -- the last max point where scroll bar can move Click "downarrow" -- down arrow which is used after every search put Mouselocation() into aloc setSearchRectangle((aloc+(-190,-130)),(aloc+(15,10))) -- it's one end is hard coded based on the length & width required If ImageFound (b) then Click b put true into result exit repeat else put false into result end if end repeat If result is false then LogError "Not Found in the Drop down "&b else Log "Found in the Drop down "&b end if end if else LogError " Not Found in the Dropdown: "&b end if end if set the SearchRectangle to () ``` This code work fine for me.Whenever i need of verify a dropdown list .i will call this script ```auto Run "h_dropdown" "value of b" ``` only thing is that,you need of know images in the dropdownlist before. Can anyone suggest a better way do it. ---
**Author:** ![EggplantMatt](https://forums.eggplantsoftware.com/user_avatar/forums.eggplantsoftware.com/eggplantmatt/32/3_2.png) [@EggplantMatt](https://forums.eggplantsoftware.com/u/EggplantMatt)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2010, 2:09pm UTC](https://forums.eggplantsoftware.com/t/can-i-read-and-process-all-values-in-a-pulldown-list/2561/5 "2010-02-26T14:09:14Z")
On the topic of querying a database from the command line, here’s an example that uses mySql: ```auto set theShell to "/bin/bash" open process theShell set mysql to "/usr/local/mysql/bin/mysql" set SQL to "select * from pet;" write mysql & return to process theShell // interactive session with DB write "use test;" & return to process theShell write SQL & return to process theShell write "exit" & return to process theShell read from process theShell until end put it close process theShell ``` Once you’ve opened the shell process, you can have it execute calls to mySQL as needed: ```auto set theShell to "/bin/bash" open process theShell set mysql to "/usr/local/mysql/bin/mysql" put ("cat", "dog", "bird", "fish","ferret") into speciesList repeat with each species of speciesList write mysql & return to process theShell write "use test;" & return to process theShell set SQL to "select * from pet where species is" && species & ";" write SQL & return to process theShell write "exit" & return to process theShell read from process theShell until end put it end repeat close process theShell ```