XPath returns for one element but doesn't return the other?

Question

I am using Java to extract values using XPath. I was able to extract elements under the element fields but the elements under records are not returned.

XML is as follows:

    <?xml version="1.0" ?>
    <qdbapi>
        <action>****</action>
        <errcode>0</errcode>
        <errtext>No error</errtext>
        <qid>****</qid>
        <qname>****</qname>
      <table>
        <fields>            
        <field id="19" field_type="text" base_type="text">
        </field>
        </fields>
        <records>
        <record>
        <f id="6">1</f>
        </record>
        </records>
    </table>
  </qdbapi>

Code below:

XMLDOMDocObj.selectNodes("//*[local-name()='fields']")//21 fields returned
XMLDOMDocObj.selectNodes("//*[local-name()='records']")//no records are returned

kjhughes · Accepted Answer · 2019-12-16 19:36:00Z

1

XML must have a single root element; yours has two: fields and records.

Wrap them in a single common root to get the results you expect.

Also, if your XML has no namespaces, there's no reason to defeat them. Instead of

//*[local-name()='records']

use

//records

5 Comments

kjhughes Over a year ago

And do both of your XPath's work for you now as predicted?

Onnesh Over a year ago

Only one of the Xpath values work namely 'fields' but the 'records' Xpath didnt work. Your suggestion for '//records' didn't work as well. For fields, the result is QBQueryResult:21 but for records the result is QBQueryResult:0. "QBQueryResult" is my result count

kjhughes Over a year ago

Works for me: //*[local-name()='records'] (Click through to see.)

Onnesh Over a year ago

Yes, this worked!!! //*[local-name()='records']. However both did not work..//*[local-name()='records']/*[local-name()='record']. Also //*[local-name()='records']//record did not work. Xpath tester online returns no error. there are at-least 4 records under <records>

kjhughes Over a year ago

Both XPaths listed in my answer will work with your (corrected) XML. So will //records/record. Since your original problem is solved, I may I suggest that you accept this answer and post a new question with a complete minimal reproducible example for any additional issues you're having?

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