# Select Option By \* Documentation is worse than poor

**URL:** <https://forum.katalon.com/t/select-option-by-documentation-is-worse-than-poor/67422>\
**Category:** Miscellaneous\
**Tags:** new-doc-request\
**Created:** [July 28, 2022, 9:20pm UTC](https://forum.katalon.com/t/select-option-by-documentation-is-worse-than-poor/67422 "2022-07-28T21:20:06Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Russ\_Thomas](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/katalon/user_avatar/forum.katalon.com/russ_thomas/32/11884_2.png) [@Russ\_Thomas](https://forum.katalon.com/u/Russ_Thomas)\
**Post date:** [July 28, 2022, 9:20pm UTC](https://forum.katalon.com/t/select-option-by-documentation-is-worse-than-poor/67422/1 "2022-07-28T21:20:06Z")

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I believe it’s high time the documentation for the various **Select Option By—** APIs were rewritten to reflect _correctly_ what they _actually do_.

### Problem

Visitors and especially _new users_ are led to believe these APIs target any kind of list. And that’s not surprising given the way the docs are written:

 ![image](https://europe1.discourse-cdn.com/katalon/original/3X/b/2/b24a98f182de1c24e9f237fc637cbafd160090fb.png)

 ![image](https://europe1.discourse-cdn.com/katalon/original/3X/0/7/07d58a3b228f825dfabdf258f0707303470949bb.png)

Technical documentation needs to be clear and precise. The use of the term “list” misleads the user into thinking the API should be able to target `<ol>` and `<ul>` elements ( **O** rdered and **U** nordered **L** ists; whereas, in fact, the APIs do not – they can only target `<option>` elements inside a `<select>` element. Nowhere does the documentation make that absolutely clear. 😠

### Commentary

I’d be surprised if all new-user problems associated with this API set didn’t comprise of anything less than 5% of the postings here. [This one is just the latest](http://forum.katalon.com/t/drop-down-isnt-picking-up-li-data-val/67417?u=russ_thomas) – when I read her first paragraph, my heart sank…

> [@Drop down isnt picking up li Data Val](https://forum.katalon.com/t/drop-down-isnt-picking-up-li-data-val/67417/1):
>
> I think i have confused myself and got myself in a bit of a tiss as I have read so much trying to fix this issue.

When I went on to read the rest of her post and saw the pains she went to just to ensure she’d posted everything we could possibly need to help her, I had to go read the docs (again) just to see why so many people are led to making the same dumb`*` mistake. What I found is how I described it above: the documentation is worse than poor.

So. Please FIX ASAP. Thanks.

\*dumb: that’s a reflection on the docs, not the users.

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**Author:** ![sara.leslie](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/katalon/user_avatar/forum.katalon.com/sara.leslie/32/20699_2.png) [@sara.leslie](https://forum.katalon.com/u/sara.leslie)\
**Post date:** [July 29, 2022, 1:55am UTC](https://forum.katalon.com/t/select-option-by-documentation-is-worse-than-poor/67422/2 "2022-07-29T01:55:25Z")

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Thank you for sharing this. I am forwarding this internally for review.

Agreed- documentation needs to be clear and concise.

I will keep you apprised of progress. For the time being I will close this thread. When we have an update we will post and @mention you.

Best, Sara

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**Author:** ![sara.leslie](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/katalon/user_avatar/forum.katalon.com/sara.leslie/32/20699_2.png) [@sara.leslie](https://forum.katalon.com/u/sara.leslie)\
**Post date:** [July 29, 2022, 1:55am UTC](https://forum.katalon.com/t/select-option-by-documentation-is-worse-than-poor/67422/3 "2022-07-29T01:55:32Z")

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Russ\_Thomas](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/katalon/user_avatar/forum.katalon.com/russ_thomas/32/11884_2.png) [@Russ\_Thomas](https://forum.katalon.com/u/Russ_Thomas)\
**Post date:** [July 29, 2022, 1:20pm UTC](https://forum.katalon.com/t/select-option-by-documentation-is-worse-than-poor/67422/6 "2022-07-29T13:20:14Z")

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