Java delete xml nodes using dom

Question

I'm using dom to deal with my xml file, I have an input on the form

<students>
    <tableRow>
        <id>1</id>
        <name>ams</name>
        <grade>100</grade>
    </tableRow>
    <tableRow>
        <id>1</id>
        <name>ams</name>
        <grade>100</grade>
    </tableRow>
</students>

I want to delete all nodes to be on the form

<students>
</students>

I've tried the following code

Node node = doc.getFirstChild();
while (node.hasChildNodes())
    node.removeChild(node.getFirstChild());

and this one

NodeList list = doc.getElementsByTagName("tableRow");
Node node = doc.getFirstChild();
for(int i = 0; i < list.getLength(); i++)
    node.removeChild(list.item(i));

but none of them worked. Any suggestions?

update
I got this exception

org.w3c.dom.DOMException: NO_MODIFICATION_ALLOWED_ERR: An attempt is made to modify an object where modifications are not allowed. at com.sun.org.apache.xerces.internal.dom.ParentNode.internalRemoveChild(Unknown Source) at com.sun.org.apache.xerces.internal.dom.ParentNode.removeChild(Unknown Source)

What do you mean by "did not work"? Did you get a exception? — Kolja
– Kolja, Commented Nov 15, 2015 at 10:34
If you don't write the modified DOM on the file, the file will not be changed. — Alessandro Da Rugna
– Alessandro Da Rugna, Commented Nov 15, 2015 at 10:38
@AlessandroDaRugna I write to the file but there was an exception, post updated — SaNtoRiaN
– SaNtoRiaN, Commented Nov 15, 2015 at 10:40
For which line of your first sample you get that exception? For which line of your second sample you get that exception? DOM NodeLists are live collection so you would need to remove items from the end of the NodeList in your loop for (int i = list.getLength() - 1; i >=0; i--) { Node child = list.item(i); child.getParentNode().removeChild(child); }. — Martin Honnen
– Martin Honnen, Commented Nov 15, 2015 at 10:50

Martin Honnen · Accepted Answer · 2015-11-15 10:41:08Z

3

If the sample you have shown is your complete XML document then I think all you need is doc.getDocumentElement().setTextContent("") which will remove all child nodes of the document element.

answered Nov 15, 2015 at 10:41

Martin Honnen

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4 Comments

SaNtoRiaN Over a year ago

Yes of course good idea, but unfortunately I need to count the deleted nodes.

Martin Honnen Over a year ago

Well doc.getDocumentElement().getChildNodes().getLength(), called before setting textContent to an empty string, will give you the number of child nodes.

SaNtoRiaN Over a year ago

Thanks so much, that's exactly what I've been trying to do

shahooo Over a year ago

Thank you so much, I've been struggling to do this from 2 weeks.

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