How do I extract specific data from xml using python?

Question

I'm relatively new to python. I've been trying to learn python through a hands-on approach (I learnt c/c++ through the doing the euler project). Right now I'm learning how to extract data from files. I've gotten the hang of extracting data from simple text files but I'm kinda stuck on xml files. An example of what I was trying to do. I have my call logs backed up on google drive and they're a lot (about 4000) Here is the xml file example

<call number="+91234567890" duration="49" date="1483514046018" type="3" presentation="1" readable_date="04-Jan-2017 12:44:06 PM" contact_name="Dad" />

I want to take all the calls to my dad and display them like this

number = 234567890
duration = "49"  date="04-Jan-2017 12:44:06 PM"
duration = "x"   date="y"
duration = "n"   date="z"

and so on like that. How do you propose I do that?

How do you propose I do that? I propose that you try writing some code, so we can see that you've put some effort into this. — John Gordon
– John Gordon, Commented Jan 18, 2018 at 3:44
Well, you can probably start by showing us a MVCE of what you've tried so far first. — r.ook
– r.ook, Commented Jan 18, 2018 at 3:44

Anil_M · Accepted Answer · 2018-01-18 04:16:30Z

1

It's advisable to provide sufficient information in a question so that problem can be recreated.

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<call number="+91234567890" duration="49" date="1483514046018" type="3" 
 presentation="1" readable_date="04-Jan-2017 12:44:06 PM" 
    contact_name="Dad" />

First we need to figure out what elements can we iter on. Since <call ../> is root element over here, we iter over that.

NOTE: if you have tags/element prior to the line provided, you will need to figure out proper root element instead of call.

>>> [i for i in root.iter('call')]
[<Element 'call' at 0x29d3410>]

Here you can see, we can iter on element call.

Then we simply iter over the element and separate out element attribute key and values as per requirements.

Working Code

import xml.etree.ElementTree as ET
data_file = 'test.xml'
tree = ET.parse(data_file)
root = tree.getroot()

for i in root.iter('call'):
    print 'duration', "=", i.attrib['duration']
    print 'data', "=", i.attrib['date']

Result

>>> 
duration = 49
data = 1483514046018
>>>

edited Jan 18, 2018 at 4:16

answered Jan 18, 2018 at 3:56

Anil_M

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3 Comments

John Gordon Over a year ago

A XML file needs at least one root element for parsing I wondered about that. The <call .../> element can't be the root?

Anil_M Over a year ago

@John Gordon. You are right. I did try without <data> element as root and it works. The <call> element in this case works as root. The documentation I referred needed a root element to iter. I've updated answer. Thanks for catching that.

sagar846 Over a year ago

@Anil_M Thank you so much for this. Now I've understood how to extract data from xml files. If I had just read this doc link I would have got it. Thanks a bunch.

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