Bash insert subnode to XML file

Question

Im trying to edit a config file using bash. My file looks like this:

<configuration>
  <property>
    <name></name>
    <value></value>
  </property>
  <property>
    <name></name>
    <value></value>
  </property>
</configuration>

I want to add another couple of <property> blocks to the file. Since all property tags are enclosed inside the configuration tags the file would looks like this:

<configuration>
  <property>
    <name></name>
    <value></value>
  </property>
  <property>
    <name></name>
    <value></value>
  </property>
  <property>
    <name></name>
    <value></value>
  </property>
</configuration>

I came across this post and followed the accepted answer, however nothing is appended to my file and the xml block I try to append is "echo-ed" as a single line string. My bash file looks like this:

file=/path/to/file/oozie-site.xml
content="<property>\n<name></name>\n<value></value>\n</property>\n<property>\n<name></name>\n<value></value>\n</property>"
echo $content
C=$(echo $content | sed 's/\//\\\//g')
sed "/<\/configuration>/ s/.*/${C}\n&/" $file

Use an XML/HTML parser (xmllint, xmlstarlet ...).

Cyrus
– Cyrus

2017-03-22 21:25:07 +00:00
Commented Mar 22, 2017 at 21:25 — Cyrus
– Cyrus, Commented Mar 22, 2017 at 21:25

Community · Accepted Answer · 2020-06-20 09:12:55Z

7

With xmlstarlet:

xmlstarlet edit --omit-decl \
  -s '//configuration' -t elem -n "property" \
  -s '//configuration/property[last()]' -t elem -n "name" \
  -s '//configuration/property[last()]' -t elem -n "value" \
  file.xml

Output:

<configuration>
  <property>
    <name/>
    <value/>
  </property>
  <property>
    <name/>
    <value/>
  </property>
  <property>
    <name/>
    <value/>
  </property>
</configuration>

--omit-decl: omit XML declaration

-s: add a subnode (see xmlstarlet edit for details)

-t elem: set node type, here: element

-n: set name of element

edited Jun 20, 2020 at 9:12

CommunityBot

11 silver badge

answered Mar 22, 2017 at 22:06

Cyrus

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3 Comments

Beginner Over a year ago

trying this out - when I run this command, it prints out my config file in the terminal with the added subnode. However when I check the file out in vim nothing seems to be appended

Beginner Over a year ago

Nvm . I added file.xml > newfile.xml and see the changes. thanks a lot. One final question, how to add multiple blocks? just have more these `-s '//configuration/property[last()]' -t elem -n "value" ` ?

Marcello DeSales Over a year ago

If there's a namespace defined, you need to specify it... stackoverflow.com/questions/17615428/…

Sébastien Temprado · Accepted Answer · 2017-03-22 22:00:47Z

1

Change the last line by sed -i.BAK "/<\/configuration>/ s/.*/${C}\n&/" $file

answered Mar 22, 2017 at 22:00

Sébastien Temprado

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1 Comment

not2savvy Over a year ago

Your answer would be more helpful with some explanation.

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