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error-handling Scenario 2 — Fallback Selector on Extraction Failure

Written by RTILA X Engineering Team

Beginner ~4 min

What You'll Learn

Assert computed styles to verify UI state

Real-World Use Case

Validating that a hidden element is truly hidden
LIVE DEMO

Fallback Selector

Only the legacy table exists; the fallback dataset captures it.

IDNameStatus
1Project AlphaActive
2Project BetaPending
3Project GammaActive
4Project DeltaPaused
5Project EpsilonActive
EXPECTED OUTPUT

Fallback Data

row_id name status
1 Project Alpha Active
2 Project Beta Pending
3 Project Gamma Active
4 Project Delta Paused
5 Project Epsilon Active
RTILA X PROJECT JSON

RTILA X Automation Project

fallback-selector-extraction.json 
{
  "name": "Fallback_Selector_Extraction",
  "settings": {
    "urls": [
      "https://learn.rtila.com/scenarios/error-handling/2"
    ]
  },
  "datasets": {
    "fallback_data": {
      "item_selector": "css=.data-table tbody tr",
      "properties": [
        {
          "name": "row_id",
          "type": "text",
          "selector": "css=td:nth-child(1)"
        },
        {
          "name": "name",
          "type": "text",
          "selector": "css=td:nth-child(2)"
        },
        {
          "name": "status",
          "type": "text",
          "selector": "css=td:nth-child(3)"
        }
      ]
    },
    "fallback_data_legacy": {
      "item_selector": "css=.legacy-table tbody tr",
      "properties": [
        {
          "name": "row_id",
          "type": "text",
          "selector": "css=td:nth-child(1)"
        },
        {
          "name": "name",
          "type": "text",
          "selector": "css=td:nth-child(2)"
        },
        {
          "name": "status",
          "type": "text",
          "selector": "css=td:nth-child(3)"
        }
      ]
    }
  },
  "commands": [
    {
      "command": "try_catch",
      "params": {
        "try": [
          {
            "command": "wait_for_selector",
            "params": {
              "selector": "css=.data-table",
              "timeout": 5000
            }
          },
          {
            "command": "extract_data",
            "params": {
              "dataset": "fallback_data"
            }
          }
        ],
        "catch": [
          {
            "command": "comment",
            "params": {
              "text": "Primary selector failed, using fallback"
            }
          },
          {
            "command": "extract_data",
            "params": {
              "dataset": "fallback_data_legacy"
            }
          }
        ]
      }
    }
  ]
}

RTILA X Concepts

When a primary selector is missing, the catch block can execute a fallback extraction using an alternative selector. This keeps the automation running even when the DOM changes.

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Copy the project JSON above, open RTILA X, create a new project, and paste it.

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This scenario covers 1 RTILA X command and is referenced in 1 learning article.

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