Скачать или смотреть How to Download PDFs using Chrome in Python with Selenium

Struggling to download PDF files using Chrome in Python with Selenium? This guide explains how to handle the 'Open' button issue by switching to the appropriate iframe before clicking to download.
---
This video is based on the question https://stackoverflow.com/q/76166414/ asked by the user 'Chetan' ( https://stackoverflow.com/u/926071/ ) and on the answer https://stackoverflow.com/a/76166964/ provided by the user 'art_architect' ( https://stackoverflow.com/u/11671972/ ) at 'Stack Overflow' website. Thanks to these great users and Stackexchange community for their contributions.

Visit these links for original content and any more details, such as alternate solutions, latest updates/developments on topic, comments, revision history etc. For example, the original title of the Question was: Unable to download PDF using chrome in python

Also, Content (except music) licensed under CC BY-SA https://meta.stackexchange.com/help/l...
The original Question post is licensed under the 'CC BY-SA 4.0' ( https://creativecommons.org/licenses/... ) license, and the original Answer post is licensed under the 'CC BY-SA 4.0' ( https://creativecommons.org/licenses/... ) license.

If anything seems off to you, please feel free to write me at vlogize [AT] gmail [DOT] com.
---
How to Download PDFs using Chrome in Python with Selenium

Downloading PDF files through automated scripts can often present challenges, especially when dealing with web pages that utilize iframes. If you've attempted to download a PDF using Selenium in Python and encountered a scenario where instead of the PDF being downloaded, you are presented with an "Open" button, you're not alone. This issue typically arises due to the way certain websites handle PDF downloads through complex HTML structures.

In this guide, we will walk you through the solution to this problem step-by-step. We will discuss how to navigate iframes using Selenium and ensure that your PDF files are downloaded automatically.

The Problem

You are utilizing Selenium to interact with a webpage that has PDF icons. When you click on one of those icons, instead of a direct download, a new page appears with an "Open" button. Attempting to click this button directly does not yield any results, as the button is located within an iframe.

Here's a brief snippet of the original code you might be working with:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

You might find that simply clicking the button doesn’t work, which can be frustrating.

The Solution

The issue is that the "Open" button exists within an iframe, and before you can click that button, you need to switch your context to the appropriate iframe first. Here’s how to modify your script effectively:

Step-by-Step Modification

Set Up Your Environment: Make sure you've configured your options to enable PDF downloads correctly.

There's a download.default_directory to specify where files should go.

Use plugins.always_open_pdf_externally to ensure PDFs don't open in the browser.

Get the Correct Element: After clicking on a PDF link, retrieve the appropriate iframe containing the "Open" button.

Switch to That Iframe: Utilize Selenium's ability to switch contexts to interact with elements nested within iframes.

Click the Open Button: Once you have switched to the correct iframe, you can locate and click the "Open" button to facilitate the download.

Here's the modified code:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

Key Points

Time Delays: Use time.sleep() judiciously to allow enough time for elements to load.

Iframe Navigation: The driver.switch_to.frame() method is crucial for interacting with elements inside iframes.

Element Identification: Ensure you're accurately identifying elements using methods like By.CLASS_NAME, By.XPATH, or By.ID.

Conclusion

With these modifications, your Selenium script should be able to download PDF files seamlessly by clicking the "Open" button that appears after navigating through the iframe. This method improves efficiency and user experience by streamlining the process of downloading PDFs from websites.

By understanding the structure of the HTML and actively navigating iframes, you can manage similar challenges in the future more effectively.

Now go ahead and implement this in your projects to automate PDF downloads with confidence!