Replace an attribute in xml with xpath

Question

I want to take an attribute found thru xpath and replace it in the Document.

This is the xml:

<MineX STATE="add">
  <Desc F_CREATOR="admin" F_ENTRYDATE="2010-12-24" F_HEIGHT="0.875" F_ID="1" F_LEFT="1.15625" F_LINE_COLOR="255" F_FORECOLOR="0">
    <F_CUSTOM_BYTES></F_CUSTOM_BYTES>
  </Desc>
</MineX>

With Java, I can retrieve the value like this:

org.w3c.dom.Document xmlDoc = getDoc(path);
XPathFactory factory = XPathFactory.newInstance();
XPath xpath = factory.newXPath();

XPathExpression myExp = xpath.compile("//MineX/Desc/@F_LINE_COLOR");
System.out.println("Line color:" + (String)myExp.evaluate(xmlDoc, XPathConstants.STRING) + "\n");

This prints out: 255

So, what XPath function will allow me to replace the 255, for another string? Or do I need something other than XPath for this?

Good question, +1. See my answer for explanation and an XSLT solution. :) — Dimitre Novatchev
– Dimitre Novatchev, Commented Dec 24, 2010 at 21:38

Dimitre Novatchev · Accepted Answer · 2010-12-24 21:37:33Z

8

So, what XPath function will allow me to replace the 255, for another string? Or do I need something other than XPath for this?

XPath is the query language for XML and as such cannot modify an XML document.

In order to modify an XML document one needs to use the programming language (such as XSLT, C#, JS, PHP, ..., etc) that is hosting XPath.

Here is a solution, where the hosting language is XSLT:

<xsl:stylesheet version="1.0"
 xmlns:xsl="http://www.w3.org/1999/XSL/Transform">
 <xsl:output omit-xml-declaration="yes" indent="yes"/>
 <xsl:strip-space elements="*"/>

 <xsl:param name="pNewLineColor" select="123"/>

 <xsl:template match="node()|@*">
  <xsl:copy>
   <xsl:apply-templates select="node()|@*"/>
  </xsl:copy>
 </xsl:template>

 <xsl:template match="@F_LINE_COLOR">
  <xsl:attribute name="{name()}">
    <xsl:value-of select="$pNewLineColor"/>
  </xsl:attribute>
 </xsl:template>
</xsl:stylesheet>

when this transformation is applied on the provided XML document:

<MineX STATE="add">
    <Desc F_CREATOR="admin"
          F_ENTRYDATE="2010-12-24"
          F_HEIGHT="0.875"
          F_ID="1"
          F_LEFT="1.15625"
          F_LINE_COLOR="255"
          F_FORECOLOR="0">
        <F_CUSTOM_BYTES></F_CUSTOM_BYTES>
    </Desc>
</MineX>

the wanted, correct result is produced:

<MineX STATE="add">
    <Desc F_CREATOR="admin"
          F_ENTRYDATE="2010-12-24"
          F_HEIGHT="0.875"
          F_ID="1"
          F_LEFT="1.15625"
          F_LINE_COLOR="123"
          F_FORECOLOR="0">
        <F_CUSTOM_BYTES></F_CUSTOM_BYTES>
    </Desc>
</MineX>

answered Dec 24, 2010 at 21:37

Dimitre Novatchev

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2 Comments

Hovercraft Full Of Eels Over a year ago

This is much better than my simple reply! :)

elcool Over a year ago

Gonna have to read more on XSLT and how it is called via Java. Thanks for the helpful answer

Hovercraft Full Of Eels · Accepted Answer · 2010-12-24 21:36:03Z

1

XPath is a query language for extracting information out of an XML file. As far as I know it is not suited for replacing or editing data in an XML. One way to transform an XML is via XSLT.

answered Dec 24, 2010 at 21:36

Hovercraft Full Of Eels

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