XML parser example

Question

I am trying to parse the following XML:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<!-- _tag -->
<tag value="0" actions_tagged="0" name="adjust temperature">
  <link type="application/xml" rel="list" href="/api/v1/tags.xml"/>
  <link type="application/xml" rel="self" href="/api/v1/tags/adjust%20temperature.xml"/>
  <actions>
    <action id="105">
      <link type="application/xml" rel="tagged_action" href="/api/v1/actions/105.xml"/>
      <short_name>Set thermostat to 68F in the winter and 74F in the summer</short_name>
    </action>
    <action id="106">
      <link type="application/xml" rel="tagged_action" href="/api/v1/actions/106.xml"/>
      <short_name>Close windows and blinds</short_name>
    </action>
  </actions>
</tag>

I would like to capture each "action id" and each "short name". I'm able to capture the short name with the following code. But, how do you obtain the corresponding action id?

String action = null;
DocumentBuilderFactory dbf = DocumentBuilderFactory.newInstance();
DocumentBuilder db = dbf.newDocumentBuilder();
Actions myActions  = new Actions();
InputSource inStream = new InputSource();
inStream.setCharacterStream(new StringReader(xml));

Document doc = db.parse(inStream);
NodeList nodeList = doc.getElementsByTagName("action");

for (int s = 0; s < nodeList.getLength(); s++) {
  Node fstNode = nodeList.item(s);
  if (fstNode.getNodeType() == Node.ELEMENT_NODE) {
    Element fstElmnt = (Element) fstNode;

    NodeList lstNmElmntLst = fstElmnt.getElementsByTagName("short_name");
    Element lstNmElmnt = (Element) lstNmElmntLst.item(0);
    NodeList lstNm = lstNmElmnt.getChildNodes();
    String currentAction = ((Node) lstNm.item(0)).getNodeValue();
    if(currentAction != null) {
      myActions.setShort_name(currentAction);
    }

    lstNmElmntLst = fstElmnt.getElementsByTagName("action id"); 
    // this didn't work - nor did 'id'
    lstNmElmnt = (Element) lstNmElmntLst.item(0);
    lstNm = lstNmElmnt.getChildNodes();
    currentAction = ((Node) lstNm.item(0)).getNodeValue();
    if(currentAction != null) {
      myActions.setDescription(currentAction);
    }
  }
}

Perhaps XPath would work well for you here.

Hovercraft Full Of Eels
– Hovercraft Full Of Eels

2011-10-29 22:22:04 +00:00
Commented Oct 29, 2011 at 22:22 — Hovercraft Full Of Eels
– Hovercraft Full Of Eels, Commented Oct 29, 2011 at 22:22

Don Roby · Accepted Answer · 2011-10-29 22:22:53Z

7

The id value is an attribute on the action tag, so once you're at the proper node, you'll want to get the id from it by something like

String idValue = fstElmnt.getAttribute("id");

answered Oct 29, 2011 at 22:22

Don Roby

41.2k6 gold badges96 silver badges114 bronze badges

Sign up to request clarification or add additional context in comments.

3 Comments

Don Roby Over a year ago

Glad it was helpful. An upvote and/or answer accept will be most welcome.

Johanne Smith Over a year ago

I didn't have enough reputation points to vote up yet, but as soon as I get them, I will vote you up. Thank you.

Don Roby Over a year ago

@JohanneSmith - You should be able to accept, and I think that will get you some points. You should see a check that you can click on I think.

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

XML parser example

1 Answer 1

3 Comments

Your Answer

Hot Network Questions

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

1 Answer 1

3 Comments

Your Answer

Sign up or log in

Post as a guest

Related