XPATH for IE / internet explorer

How to get XPATH for Internet explorer?
Alternate for firebug in Internet explorer?

If you are using selenium and your application works only on Internet explorer , the biggest challenge that one faces is to get the XPATH and validate the same, here is a neat workaround that uses javascript injection to get you the desired xpath:

• Open IE in a new browser with a blank page
• Add a new Favorites and name it XPATH1
• Open the Favorites menu and right click the newly added favorite and select properties option.
• Select the web Document Tab. Enter the following in the URL field:

javascript:function getNode(node){var nodeExpr=node.tagName;if(!nodeExpr)return null;if(node.id!=''){nodeExpr+="[@id='"+node.id+"']";return "/"+nodeExpr;}var rank=1;var ps=node.previousSibling;while(ps){if(ps.tagName==node.tagName){rank++;}ps=ps.previousSibling;}if(rank>1){nodeExpr+='['+rank+']';}else{var ns=node.nextSibling;while(ns){if(ns.tagName==node.tagName){nodeExpr+='[1]';break;}ns=ns.nextSibling;}}return nodeExpr;}

• Click YES on the pop-up alert.
• Add another favorite XPATH2
• Open the Favorites menu and right click the newly added favorite and select properties option.
• Select the web Document Tab. Enter the following in the URL field:

javascript:function o__o(){var currentNode=document.selection.createRange().parentElement();var path=[];while(currentNode){var pe=getNode(currentNode);if(pe){path.push(pe);if(pe.indexOf('@id')!=-1)break;}currentNode=currentNode.parentNode;}var xpath="/"+path.reverse().join('/');clipboardData.setData("Text", xpath);}o__o();

• Click YES on the pop-up alert.

You are now ready to fetch the xpath:

• Open your application in a new IE browser
• Select (from the left of the object highlight until the right) whose XPATH you want.
• Now first select the favorite XPATH1 and then select the favorite XPATH2
• If you get a pop-up alert allow access.
• Open any text editor and paste  - You will have the desired XPATH !

Enjoy this amazing trick done by js for getting the xpath of any object in Internet explorer.