Create PHP variables with data contained in a XML node

Question

I'm having some serious trouble with this. What I'm trying to do is 'extract' all the contents of a specific node in XML, and turn these into PHP variables, in order to use them later on.

Heres a small sample XML test data set I'm using.

<RECIPES>
<RECIPE>
<TI>Cinnamon Rolls</TI>
<IN>1/2 ea Sweet dough mixture</IN>
<IN>1/2 c Packed light brown sugar</IN>
<IN>1/2 c Pecans; chopped</IN>
<IN>1/2 c Dark seedless raisins</IN>
<IN>1 tsp Ground cinnamon</IN>
<IN>1/4 c Butter OR margarine; melted</IN>
<IN>Sugar Glaze (below opt)</IN>
<PR>Some Stuff.</PR>
</RECIPE>
<RECIPE>
<TI>SWEET BISCUITS</TI>
<IN>2 c Baking mix</IN>
<IN>2/3 c Milk</IN>
<IN>1/4 c Cinnamon Sugar</IN>
<IN>2 tb Butter</IN>
<PR>Some other stuff</PR>
</RECIPE>
<RECIPE>

(Theres actually about 900's of these) What I want to achieve is to extract the data from each node, and convert them to a variable; Below is what I hope to end up with.

$variable="Cinamon Rolls";
$variable2="Sweet Biscuits";

Is there a way to accomplish this? From what I've been researching i'm pretty sure it's something to do with SimpleXML. I've managed to output the contents individually, but just can't figure out how to then store them.

Problem is solved Thanks everyone for the help,

 $obj = simplexml_load_string($xml);

    foreach($obj->RECIPE as $r) {
        $variable = (string)$r->TI;
        echo $variable; }

Superb, thanks very much. Saved my ass.

Move info on this is easily found in the php docs: nl1.php.net/manual/en/simplexml.examples-basic.php — svn
– svn, Commented Dec 7, 2012 at 11:04

MrCode · Accepted Answer · 2012-12-07 10:45:42Z

1

Use SimpleXML:

$obj = simplexml_load_string($xml);

foreach($obj->RECIPE as $r)
{
    $variable = (string)$r->TI;
    echo $variable;
}

Outputs

Cinamon Rolls
Sweet Biscuits

codepad Demo

answered Dec 7, 2012 at 10:45

MrCode

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2 Comments

Jan. Over a year ago

Actually the assignmen into variables isn't really needed. Just load the string/file with simplexml_load_file() or simplexml_load_string() and then look at the object you get with var_dump(). Anyways. +1

MrCode Over a year ago

@Jan yes, the assignment is not required, but OP asked to store it in $variable, but you are right, we could of course just echo (string)$r->TI; directly.

Rene Pot · Accepted Answer · 2012-12-07 10:47:49Z

1

In an array?

$xml = simplexml_load_file($file_location);
$array = array();

foreach ($xml->RECIPE as $recipe){
    $array[] = $recipe->TI
}

answered Dec 7, 2012 at 10:47

Rene Pot

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