Lauren, et.al.,

I encountered the same problems when an ie.select_list(:name,"a-select-list").select("an-option") call elicited a popup that I could not handle because the internal Watir code was doing a "@container.wait" call.

Fortunately, Ruby's "singleton class" capability allows us to dynamically override object methods and so I was able to implement a workaround by overriding the Watir SelectList.select method (from input_elements.rb) and the Element.fire_event method (from elements.rb) by adding an optional "wait" flag (default=true) to the problem methods as shown below:

    ...

    # let select_list_causing_popup represent a Watir select_list that might/will
    # cause a popup that you must handle immediately

    select_list_causing_popup = ie.select_list(:name,"aselectlist")

    # dynamically override the Watir methods for .fire_event and .select
    # to create optionally "asynchronous" versions

    class << select_list_causing_popup
    
        # From Watir:element.rb
    
        def fire_event(event,wait=true) # add an optional "wait" flag to control waiting
          assert_enabled
          highlight(:set)
          ole_object.fireEvent(event)
          @container.wait if wait # waiting is now optional
          highlight(:clear)
        end
    
        # From Watir:input_elements.rb
    
        def select(item,wait=true) # add an optional "wait" flag to control waiting
          select_item_in_select_list(:text, item, wait)
        end
    
        def select_item_in_select_list(attribute, value, wait=true)
          assert_exists
          highlight(:set)
          doBreak = false
          @container.log "Setting box #{@o.name} to #{attribute} #{value} "
          @o.each do |option| # items in the list
            if value.matches(option.invoke(attribute.to_s))
              if option.selected
                doBreak = true
                break
              else
                option.selected = true
                @o.fireEvent("onChange")
                @container.wait if wait # waiting is now optional
                doBreak = true
                break
              end
            end
          end
          unless doBreak
            raise NoValueFoundException,
                            "No option with #{attribute.to_s} of #{value} in this select element"
          end
          highlight(:clear)
        end
    end

    # select the option

    select_list_causing_popup.option("anoption",false) # call YOUR asynchronous version of .option()
    select_list_causing_popup.fire_event("onclick",false) # call YOUR asynchronous version of .fire_event()

    # control returns here immediately so you can handle the popup-dialog

    ...

This technique appears to have the following advantages:

  + You can selectively employ it where you need it.
  + The default calling sequences for the methods remain unchanged as the "wait" flag is optional.
  + You can apply this technique to other Watir methods "X" that require a "X_no_wait" variant.

The primary disadvantage is that the code for the overriden methods may have to change if their corresponding code within Watir changes with a new release.

Anyway, I hope this helps.

Bob