java recursion for DOM objects

Question

I have to search for specific element in DOM Structure recursively, but right now I am completely "stuck" and cannot find where my algorithm is mistaken.

Alg searches for element table and has to return true if it is exists.

private boolean isCompositeExists(Node fieldNode) {
   NodeList childNodes = fieldNode.getChildNodes();
   if (childNodes != null) {
      for (int i = 0; i < childNodes.getLength(); i++) {
         Node child = childNodes.item(i);

         isCompositeExists(child);

         if (child.getNodeName().equals("table")) {
            return true;
         }

      }
   }
   return false;
}

Why are you discarding the return value from the recursive call? — Miserable Variable
– Miserable Variable, Commented Feb 11, 2014 at 12:37

OldCurmudgeon · Accepted Answer · 2014-02-11 12:47:39Z

2

You probably need something like:

private boolean isCompositeExists(Node fieldNode) {
  NodeList childNodes = fieldNode.getChildNodes();
  for (int i = 0; i < childNodes.getLength(); i++) {
     Node child = childNodes.item(i);
     if (child.getNodeName().equals("table") || isCompositeExists(child)) {
        return true;
     }
  }
   return false;
}

Note that you do not need to check getChildNodes() for null.

edited Feb 11, 2014 at 12:47

answered Feb 11, 2014 at 12:41

OldCurmudgeon

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