Read XML using XMLReader in PHP without know nodes

Question

I have to read and parse an XML file using XMLReader with PHP without know the nodes.

I have this file:

<Invoices>
  <Company>
    <Name>Tuttobimbi Srl</Name>
  </Company>
  <Documents>
    <Document>
      <CustomerCode>0055</CustomerCode>
      <CustomerWebLogin></CustomerWebLogin>
      <CustomerName>Il Puffetto</CustomerName>
    </Document>
  </Documents>
</Invoices>

I would to parse it like this:

Invoices
Invoices, Company
Invoices, Company, Name
Invoices, Documents
Invoices, Documents, Document
etc...

I wrote this code:

    while ($xml->read()) {
        if ($xml->nodeType == XMLReader::ELEMENT)
            array_push($a, $xml->name);

        if ($xml->nodeType == XMLReader::END_ELEMENT)
            array_pop($a);

        if ($xml->nodeType == XMLReader::TEXT) {
            if (!in_array(implode(",", $a), $result)) {
                $result[] = implode(",", $a);
            }
        }
    }

It seems to work but doesn't print the nodes with subnodes, such as:

Invoices
Invoices, Company
Invoices, Documents
Invoices, Documents, Document

@PaulCrovella My mistake. I'm used to using SimpleXML, hence my false assumption. — jhmckimm
– jhmckimm, Commented Aug 23, 2016 at 16:27

user3942918 · Accepted Answer · 2016-08-23 17:14:02Z

1

Many of those nodes you'd think would be XMLReader::TEXT nodes are actually XMLReader::SIGNIFICANT_WHITESPACE.

Fortunately you can drop that $xml->nodeType == XMLReader::TEXT check altogether and build your result as you encounter elements.

Example:

while ($xml->read()) {
    if ($xml->nodeType == XMLReader::ELEMENT) {
        array_push($a, $xml->name);
        $result[] = implode(",", $a);
    }

    if ($xml->nodeType == XMLReader::END_ELEMENT) {
        array_pop($a);
    }
}

This'll give you:

Array
(
    [0] => Invoices
    [1] => Invoices,Company
    [2] => Invoices,Company,Name
    [3] => Invoices,Documents
    [4] => Invoices,Documents,Document
    [5] => Invoices,Documents,Document,CustomerCode
    [6] => Invoices,Documents,Document,CustomerWebLogin
    [7] => Invoices,Documents,Document,CustomerName
)

edited Aug 23, 2016 at 17:14

answered Aug 23, 2016 at 16:19

user3942918

26.5k13 gold badges57 silver badges68 bronze badges

Sign up to request clarification or add additional context in comments.

2 Comments

Swim89 Over a year ago

Thanks @paul-crovella, I used your first solution to not repeat element in the array. Thanks

Swim89 Over a year ago

now I have a problem...into "if (!empty($a) && !in_array(implode(",", $a), $result)) {" I need also to save into an other array the value of the node. When I try "$xml->value" I have no value inside...

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

Read XML using XMLReader in PHP without know nodes

1 Answer 1

2 Comments

Your Answer

Hot Network Questions

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

1 Answer 1

2 Comments

Your Answer

Sign up or log in

Post as a guest

Related