Choose and use components

Choose the component that matches how the application control behaves.

Control	How to use it reliably
Textbox	Identify its field label, enter the required value, then send Enter or Tab only when the workflow needs it.
Date	Enter the required date and explicitly move focus away to commit it before checking the result.
Dropdown	Select an actual option. Placeholder prompts such as “Select a Value” are not selected business values.
Search dropdown	Enter the search text, wait for choices and select the intended result. Keep search text separate from the choice you expect.
Button or link	Use the visible name and confirm whether it opens a new page.
Menu	Follow its parent-to-child path, such as Admin Controls → Reference Management.
Tab	Choose its visible title and check the content after switching.
Checkbox or radio	Specify the intended selection and check the result.
Dialog	Confirm the intended dialog is open before using its supported controls.
Grid	Choose the correct grid, row and column before using a cell control.
Dataset	Identify the intended record and verify its required values.

For grids, prefer a unique business row value and a clear column name. Use positions when names cannot uniquely identify a cell. Position-based choices need review when sorting, filtering or paging changes. Check duplicate values before approving a target.

Allow component actions to finish. Increasing the timeout can help a slow page, but does not resolve a wrong label, missing permission or unexpected page.