Fetching value from a nested XML using XPath

Question

I want to fetch the element amount and its value from the below XML using XPath expression.

<donor>
    <beneficiaries>
        <beneficiary>
            <balance>10</balance>
            <additionaData>
                <name>age</name>
                <value>40</value>
            </additionaData>
            <additionaData>
                <name>amount</name>
                <value>1000</value>
            </additionaData>
        </beneficiary>
        <beneficiary>
            <balance>10</balance>
            <additionaData>
                <name>age</name>
                <value>50</value>
            </additionaData>
            <additionaData>
                <name>amount</name>
                <value>4000</value>
            </additionaData>
        </beneficiary>
    </beneficiaries>
</donor>

I am able to get the NodeList for beneficiary element but not able to get the content of tag name and value.

Update:

I want to first check if the tag <name> in <additionalData> is amount if yes fetch the content of <value> for all <beneficiary>.

kjhughes · Accepted Answer · 2016-07-21 00:56:34Z

1

This XPath,

/donor/beneficiaries/beneficiary/additionaData[name='amount']/value

will select the two value elements associated with "amount" name elements:

<value>1000</value>
<value>4000</value>

This XPath,

/donor/beneficiaries/beneficiary[additionaData[name='age']/value = 50]
                    /additionaData[name='amount']/value

will select only the "amount" value element for the beneficiary of age 50:

<value>4000</value>

Update:

i actually want to first check if the tag <name> in <additionalData> is amount if yes fetch the content of for all <beneficiary>

This XPath,

/donor/beneficiaries/beneficiary[additionaData/name='amount']

will select all beneficiary elements whose additionaData/name equals "amount":

<beneficiary> 
  <balance>10</balance>  
  <additionaData> 
    <name>age</name>  
    <value>40</value> 
  </additionaData>  
  <additionaData> 
    <name>amount</name>  
    <value>1000</value> 
  </additionaData> 
</beneficiary>

<beneficiary> 
  <balance>10</balance>  
  <additionaData> 
    <name>age</name>  
    <value>50</value> 
  </additionaData>  
  <additionaData> 
    <name>amount</name>  
    <value>4000</value> 
  </additionaData> 
</beneficiary>

edited Jul 21, 2016 at 0:56

answered Jul 20, 2016 at 20:20

kjhughes

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5 Comments

Pankaj Over a year ago

thanks .. i actually want to first check if the tag <name> in <additionalData> is amount if yes fetch the content of <value> for all <beneficiary>

Pankaj Over a year ago

thanks again .. i have never used Xpath before . Now how do i iterate over the NodeList to get the content of <value> where <name> is amount.

kjhughes Over a year ago

You're welcome. Is your latest request not satisfied by the original XPath I offered? I've already given you several variations. Please accept this answer if it's helped, and ask a new question rather than continuously extending this one. Be sure to be clear to state what you want to select in specific declarative, not procedural, terms. Thanks.

Pankaj Over a year ago

Sorry for the confusion. :-) .. Yes your answer is useful !!! After using the expression (/donor/beneficiaries/beneficiary[additionaData/name='amount']) now i have the NodeList. My requirement is to iterate all the beneficiary node and check the <additionalData> if the <name> is amount fetch the content of <value>

kjhughes Over a year ago

What you're failing to recognize is that XPath can take you all the way to the node or nodes you want without additional iteration. I cannot help you further because you refuse to simply state what you wish to select in the end. Good luck.

SomeDude · Accepted Answer · 2016-07-20 18:55:28Z

0

The below xpath will give values

//donor/beneficiaries/beneficiary/additionaData/*[name()='name'][.='amount']/following-sibling::*[name()='value']

Element='<value>1000</value>'
Element='<value>4000</value>'

If you want to get age nodes

modify the above xpath by replacing amount with age

answered Jul 20, 2016 at 18:55

SomeDude

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3 Comments

Pankaj Over a year ago

thanks .. i have edit the question i need to fetch the content of <value> if the <name> is amount for all beneficiary,

SomeDude Over a year ago

@Pankaj do you want a java implementation to iterate over nodelist of <name> elements?

Pankaj Over a year ago

hi svasa .. My requirement is to iterate all the beneficiary node and check the <additionalData> if the <name> is amount fetch the content of <value>

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