xml to array in ruby

Question

I am new to ruby and rails programming and I need to parse an xml file that I get as a response and store the station names in an array. A sample of the xml is as follows :

<Stations>
<Station>
<Code>HT</Code>
<Type>knooppuntIntercitystation</Type>
<Namen>
<Kort>Den Bosch</Kort>
<Middel>'s-Hertogenbosch</Middel>
<Lang>'s-Hertogenbosch</Lang>
</Namen>
<Land>NL</Land>
<UICCode>8400319</UICCode>
<Lat>51.69048</Lat>
<Lon>5.29362</Lon>
<Synoniemen>
<Synoniem>Hertogenbosch ('s)</Synoniem>
<Synoniem>Den Bosch</Synoniem>
</Synoniemen>
</Station>
<Station>
<Code>HTO</Code>
<Type>stoptreinstation</Type>
<Namen>
<Kort>Dn Bosch O</Kort>
<Middel>Hertogenbosch O.</Middel>
<Lang>'s-Hertogenbosch Oost</Lang>
</Namen>
<Land>NL</Land>
<UICCode>8400320</UICCode>
<Lat>51.700553894043</Lat>
<Lon>5.3183331489563</Lon>
<Synoniemen>
<Synoniem>Hertogenbosch Oost ('s)</Synoniem>
<Synoniem>Den Bosch Oost</Synoniem>
</Synoniemen>
</Station>
</Stations>

I need to get the Code and the Lang name in an array of hashes or just the lang name in an array.

How can I do that in ruby ? thanks in advance

I'd recommend searching for "ruby xml parser" and "parsing xml with ruby" plus variations on those. Please read "How to Ask" along with the linked pages. — the Tin Man
– the Tin Man, Commented Nov 16, 2016 at 17:24

kajal ojha · Accepted Answer · 2016-11-16 12:45:55Z

2

you can use

hash = Hash.from_xml(xml)

Refrence doc:

http://apidock.com/rails/v4.0.2/Hash/from_xml/class

answered Nov 16, 2016 at 12:45

kajal ojha

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2 Comments

Sergio Tulentsev Over a year ago

Oh, never seen this one. Fortunately, I might add :)

Gowtham Over a year ago

@SergioTulentsev Sure, I get it. I'm just saying that this is not always the right solution.

Eric Duminil · Accepted Answer · 2016-11-16 14:50:35Z

1

Here's a solution which doesn't require Rails but a small gem (xml-simple) :

#  gem install xml-simple
require 'xmlsimple'

stations = XmlSimple.xml_in(xml, :ForceArray => ['Station', 'Synoniem'])

codes_and_langs = stations['Station'].map{|station| {:code => station["Code"], :lang => station.fetch("Namen",{})["Lang"]}}
puts codes_and_langs.inspect
#=> [{:code=>"HT", :lang=>"'s-Hertogenbosch"}, {:code=>"HTO", :lang=>"'s-Hertogenbosch Oost"}]

If you are using Rails or have Rails installed :

require 'active_support/core_ext/hash' # <- Use this line for non-Rails Ruby scripts.

hash            = Hash.from_xml(xml)
root_node       = hash["Stations"]     || {}
stations        = root_node["Station"] || []
codes_and_langs = stations.compact.map do |station|
  {
    :code       => station["Code"],
    :lang       => station.fetch('Namen',{})['Lang']
  }
end
puts codes_and_langs.inspect
#[{:code=>"HT", :lang=>"'s-Hertogenbosch"}, {:code=>"HTO", :lang=>"'s-Hertogenbosch Oost"}]

just_langs = stations.compact.map do |station|
  station.fetch('Namen',{})['Lang']
end

puts just_langs.inspect
# ["'s-Hertogenbosch", "'s-Hertogenbosch Oost"]

Hash#fetch is used to avoid an exception if "Namen" isn't defined.

Here's xml variable for both scripts :

xml="<Stations>
    <Station>
    <Code>HT</Code>
    <Type>knooppuntIntercitystation</Type>
    <Namen>
    <Kort>Den Bosch</Kort>
    <Middel>'s-Hertogenbosch</Middel>
    <Lang>'s-Hertogenbosch</Lang>
    </Namen>
    <Land>NL</Land>
    <UICCode>8400319</UICCode>
    <Lat>51.69048</Lat>
    <Lon>5.29362</Lon>
    <Synoniemen>
    <Synoniem>Hertogenbosch ('s)</Synoniem>
    <Synoniem>Den Bosch</Synoniem>
    </Synoniemen>
    </Station>
    <Station>
    <Code>HTO</Code>
    <Type>stoptreinstation</Type>
    <Namen>
    <Kort>Dn Bosch O</Kort>
    <Middel>Hertogenbosch O.</Middel>
    <Lang>'s-Hertogenbosch Oost</Lang>
    </Namen>
    <Land>NL</Land>
    <UICCode>8400320</UICCode>
    <Lat>51.700553894043</Lat>
    <Lon>5.3183331489563</Lon>
    <Synoniemen>
    <Synoniem>Hertogenbosch Oost ('s)</Synoniem>
    <Synoniem>Den Bosch Oost</Synoniem>
    </Synoniemen>
    </Station>
    </Stations>
    "

edited Nov 16, 2016 at 14:50

answered Nov 16, 2016 at 12:56

Eric Duminil

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14 Comments

John Avlakiotis Over a year ago

I have rails, so I was using your second suggestion but I get the following error "NoMethodError Exception: undefined method `[]' for nil:NilClass" . Sorry if I am sounding stupid but I am really new to this

Eric Duminil Over a year ago

The code works fine with the example you posted, maybe your bigger xml isn't formatted the same or has missing nodes. I'll update the code with a more robust solution.

Eric Duminil Over a year ago

The updated version should work with empty Station nodes.

John Avlakiotis Over a year ago

Thanks! THis works. And something simpler, how about if I wanted instead of a hash just to make an array with the Long names?

John Avlakiotis Over a year ago

thanks that works as well, and a final question if you can help me, how would i print the just_langs in my index.html.erb, since I am using rails and it is part of what I want to do.

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