Cannot read span elements

Question

Hi since I did gem install watir watir-classic my scripts are not reading anymore the span elements. Can you please help me to fix this problem

here my example

Source

Rented 
<SPAN class="displayData" style="padding-left:2px; width: 15;"><span name="tab4RateInfoForm.vehicleGroup"/>F</span></SPAN>&nbsp;

My code

carGroup=browser.span(:name => 'tab4RateInfoForm.vehicleGroup').text

Error message

C:/Ruby193/lib/ruby/gems/1.9.1/gems/watir-classic-3.3.0/lib/watir-classic/locator.rb:79:in `rescue in match?': name is an unknown way of finding a <span> element (tab4RateInfoForm.vehicleGroup) (Watir::Exception::MissingWayOfFindingObjectException)
from C:/Ruby193/lib/ruby/gems/1.9.1/gems/watir-classic-3.3.0/lib/watir-classic/locator.rb:76:in `match?'
from C:/Ruby193/lib/ruby/gems/1.9.1/gems/watir-classic-3.3.0/lib/watir-classic/locator.rb:62:in `block in match_with_specifiers?'
from C:/Ruby193/lib/ruby/gems/1.9.1/gems/watir-classic-3.3.0/lib/watir-classic/locator.rb:59:in `each'
from C:/Ruby193/lib/ruby/gems/1.9.1/gems/watir-classic-3.3.0/lib/watir-classic/locator.rb:59:in `all?'
from C:/Ruby193/lib/ruby/gems/1.9.1/gems/watir-classic-3.3.0/lib/watir-classic/locator.rb:59:in `match_with_specifiers?'
from C:/Ruby193/lib/ruby/gems/1.9.1/gems/watir-classic-3.3.0/lib/watir-classic/locator.rb:22:in `block (2 levels) in each'
from C:/Ruby193/lib/ruby/gems/1.9.1/gems/watir-classic-3.3.0/lib/watir-classic/locator.rb:140:in `block in each_element'
from C:/Ruby193/lib/ruby/gems/1.9.1/gems/watir-classic-3.3.0/lib/watir-classic/locator.rb:139:in `each'
from C:/Ruby193/lib/ruby/gems/1.9.1/gems/watir-classic-3.3.0/lib/watir-classic/locator.rb:139:in `each_element'
from C:/Ruby193/lib/ruby/gems/1.9.1/gems/watir-classic-3.3.0/lib/watir-classic/locator.rb:21:in `block in each'
from C:/Ruby193/lib/ruby/gems/1.9.1/gems/watir-classic-3.3.0/lib/watir-classic/locator.rb:20:in `each'
from C:/Ruby193/lib/ruby/gems/1.9.1/gems/watir-classic-3.3.0/lib/watir-classic/locator.rb:20:in `each'
from C:/Ruby193/lib/ruby/gems/1.9.1/gems/watir-classic-3.3.0/lib/watir-classic/locator.rb:150:in `locate'
from C:/Ruby193/lib/ruby/gems/1.9.1/gems/watir-classic-3.3.0/lib/watir-classic/element.rb:33:in `locate'
from C:/Ruby193/lib/ruby/gems/1.9.1/gems/watir-classic-3.3.0/lib/watir-classic/element.rb:63:in `assert_exists'
from C:/Ruby193/lib/ruby/gems/1.9.1/gems/watir-classic-3.3.0/lib/watir-classic/element.rb:132:in `text'

Answer 1

Solution 1: Use css locator

You will have to use a css-locator (or xpath):

carGroup = browser.span(:css, 'span[name="tab4RateInfoForm.vehicleGroup"]').text

Solution 2: Monkey patch

Alternatively, if you have a lot of legacy scripts that use the name attribute, you can monkey patch Watir to have the name method for all elements (or specific element if desired).

Add the following to wherever you require watir:

Watir::IE.new(true)
module Watir
  class Element
    def name
      return self.attribute_value('name')
    end
  end
end

Your original method should now work.