How to build xpath using namespaces and conditions

Question

Using this xml:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<actionResponse>
   <responses>
       <response>
           <data></data>
           <details>
               <requestId>1</requestId>
           </details>
           <errors>
               <error>
                   <msg>Message 1</msg>
               </error>
               <error>
                   <msg>Message 2</msg>
               </error>
           </errors>
       </response>
       <response>
           <data></data>
           <details>
               <requestId>2</requestId>
           </details>
           <errors>
               <error>
                   <msg>Message 1</msg>
               </error>
               <error>
                   <msg>Message 2</msg>
               </error>
           </errors>
       </response>
   </responses>
</actionResponse>

I can play with xpath(s) like these:

//response[details/requestId=1]/errors/error/msg[text()="Message 1"] //response[details/requestId=2]/errors/error/msg[text()="Message 1"] //response[details/requestId=1]/errors/error/msg[text()="Message 2"]

In other words, I can get a message from an specific request. The problem is trying to do the same when the xml has namespaces. I can not find a way to do the same with this one:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<env:Envelope
   xmlns:env="http://www.w3.org/2003/05/soap-envelope">
   <env:Body>
       <actionResponse
           xmlns="http://www.sample.com/namespaces/SOAP">
           <responses>
               <response>
                   <data></data>
                   <details>
                       <requestId>1</requestId>
                   </details>
                   <errors>
                       <error>
                           <msg>Message 1</msg>
                       </error>
                       <error>
                           <msg>Message 2</msg>
                       </error>
                   </errors>
               </response>
               <response>
                   <data></data>
                   <details>
                       <requestId>2</requestId>
                   </details>
                   <errors>
                       <error>
                           <msg>Message 1</msg>
                       </error>
                       <error>
                           <msg>Message 2</msg>
                       </error>
                   </errors>
               </response>
           </responses>
       </actionResponse>
   </env:Body>
</env:Envelope>

MiMo · Accepted Answer · 2016-02-16 00:15:05Z

1

The XPath would be:

//soap:response[soap:details/soap:requestId=1]/soap:errors/soap:error/soap:msg[text()="Message 1"]

and you have to tell you XPath processor that the soap prefix corresponds to http://www.sample.com/namespaces/SOAP.

How to do this depends on the processor you are using. For example in C# / .NET you would use a XmlNamespaceManager, see this example

edited Feb 16, 2016 at 0:15

answered Feb 15, 2016 at 23:47

MiMo

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1 Comment

Dan Field Over a year ago

Yes, except the soap prefix should be in reference to http://www.sample.com/namespaces/SOAP"

raymercb · Accepted Answer · 2016-02-16 17:56:40Z

0

Playing a little more with xpaths, this solution fits more in my case, thanks!

//*[local-name()='response']/*[local-name()='details']/*[local-name()='requestId'][text()="1"]/../../*[local-name()='errors']/*[local-name()='error']/*[local-name()='msg'][text()="Message 1"]

edited Feb 16, 2016 at 17:56

answered Feb 16, 2016 at 15:44

raymercb

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1 Comment

Dan Field Over a year ago

This will work, but be aware that it could give you unexpected results if you get nodes with the same name in different namespaces. It should generally be avoided if possible.

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