Extracting values and formatting XML feed Rails3

Question

I've got the following feed from an external site which I've brought in to my rails3.2 app via httparty.

It would seem I'm having a retarted moment and cannot figure out how on earth to format / style it. Do I need to use nokogiri or is it simpler?

["radcheck", [{"attribute_name"=>"User-Password", "batch_user_id"=>nil, "id"=>22, "op"=>":=", "radcheck_serial"=>nil, "raduser_id"=>nil, "username"=>"simon", "value"=>"pass"}, {"attribute_name"=>"User-Password", "batch_user_id"=>nil, "id"=>23, "op"=>":=", "radcheck_serial"=>nil, "raduser_id"=>nil, "username"=>"silver", "value"=>"rain"}.....

What you're showing is a ruby data structure, no need for nokogiri. But what are you trying to accomplish, just render an html view for that data? How about a rails view or partial? — edk750
– edk750, Commented Feb 19, 2012 at 18:05
Think I'm experiencing writers block... Am just trying to format with plain old html.. Don't seem to be able to loop through the values as usual. — simonmorley
– simonmorley, Commented Feb 19, 2012 at 18:09
Btw. Am pretty sure that's not standard ror output considering it's pulling from xml feed and output is different. — simonmorley
– simonmorley, Commented Feb 19, 2012 at 19:21
Can you add more details / code on how you retrieve your feed object ? — Thomas Guillory
– Thomas Guillory, Commented Feb 20, 2012 at 8:28
According to HTTParty doc, your comment is not correct : HTTParty parse automatically XML into a standard ruby hash... — Thomas Guillory
– Thomas Guillory, Commented Feb 20, 2012 at 8:32

edk750 · Accepted Answer · 2012-02-19 21:10:22Z

1

Given your sample data:

feed = ["radcheck", [
  {"attribute_name"=>"User-Password", "batch_user_id"=>nil, "id"=>22, "op"=>":=", "radcheck_serial"=>nil, "raduser_id"=>nil, "username"=>"simon", "value"=>"pass"},
  {"attribute_name"=>"User-Password", "batch_user_id"=>nil, "id"=>23, "op"=>":=", "radcheck_serial"=>nil, "raduser_id"=>nil, "username"=>"silver", "value"=>"rain"}
]]

if feed.is_a? Array && feed.size >= 2
  radcheck = feed.first  # do you need this first element?
  data = feed[1]
  # now you have an array in data, and can loop over each hash
  Array(data).each do |elem|
    puts elem["id"] # and so on
  end
end

This works in my console, so you should be able to adapt this for your templating mechanism.

answered Feb 19, 2012 at 21:10

edk750

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2 Comments

simonmorley Over a year ago

That makes more sense. However, in my console it gives me a TypeError: class or module required.

edk750 Over a year ago

at which line does it give the error? And what type is the object it's throwing the error on?

Thomas Guillory · Accepted Answer · 2012-02-19 19:23:20Z

1

Hum I think all you have to do is to loop over the 2nd element, which is an array of hash :

In controller :

@feed = ... # Retrieve your feed with httparty or other

In view :

<p>
First element: <%= @feed[0] #="radcheck", don't know the meaning of this %>
</p>
<p>
Attributes:
<ul>
<% @feed[1].each do |item| %>
  <li>
  Name: <%= item.attribute_name %><br />
  Batch User ID: <%= item.batch_user_id %><br />
  ID: <%= item.id %><br />
  OP: <%= item.op %><br />
  ... and so on ...
  </li>
<% end %>
</ul>
</p>

answered Feb 19, 2012 at 19:23

Thomas Guillory

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3 Comments

simonmorley Over a year ago

Thanks for response. That method gives me the following error: undefined method `each' for nil:NilClass

Thomas Guillory Over a year ago

If @feed is exactly what you say (["radcheck, [{ ...},{...}..."), @feed[1] can't be nil and is an Array of Hash. This work in my console.

simonmorley Over a year ago

Got it working a slightly different way. Thanks for the help though - very helpful.

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