PHP Retrieve DATA from XML

Question

My first attempt at retrieving data from XML for a maps application has failed. Here is a piece of the XML Feed.

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<DirectionsResponse>
 <status>OK</status>
 <route>
  <leg>

   <start_address>Winkfield, Bracknell, Berkshire RG42 6LY, UK</start_address>
   <end_address>Wentworth, Surrey GU25 4, UK</end_address>

  </leg>
 </route>
</DirectionsResponse>

I want to get the start and end address and return them via AJAX to the application.

The PHP

<?php 

$start = $_POST['start'];
$end = $_POST['end'];

$xml = simplexml_load_file('http://maps.googleapis.com/maps/api/directions/xml?origin='.$start.'&destination='.$end.'&sensor=false');


// data to fetch

$start = $xml->xpath("/DirectionsResponse/route/leg/start_address");

$end = $xml->xpath("/DirectionsResponse/route/leg/end_address");

$start = array($start);
// output

echo json_encode( array('output'=>$start[0]));


?>

Annoyingly this is returning an object to the page.

Response :: {"output":[{"0":"Winkfield, Windsor, Berkshire SL4 2ES, UK"}]}

Anyone know how to stop that from happening. I just want the value Winkfield, Windsor, Berkshire SL4 2ES, UK.

do it by hand. E.g. echo "{ 'output' : { 'start' : '$start', 'end' : '$end' } }"; — Nemoden
– Nemoden, Commented May 30, 2011 at 13:02
I think he means that he wants to end up with {"output":"Winkfield, Windsor, Berkshire SL4 2ES, UK"} — Mick Hansen
– Mick Hansen, Commented May 30, 2011 at 13:02
@Nemoden Probably, but i think he's missed the part in the SimpleXML XPath documentation about XPath returning an array of elements - That's why he's getting the list output in JSON. — Mick Hansen
– Mick Hansen, Commented May 30, 2011 at 13:07

Mick Hansen · Accepted Answer · 2011-05-30 13:05:27Z

3

Haven't tested your specific case, but i remember running into something similar when using SimpleXML, you might want to use (string) to cast it out of the object

array('output'=> (string)$start[0])

Or rather just leave out $start = array($start) and just do

array('output'=> (string)$start)

On reading the SimpleXML XPath documentation (http://www.php.net/manual/en/simplexmlelement.xpath.php) again i think your problem might be this:

Returns an array of SimpleXMLElement objects or FALSE in case of an error.

So the XPath returns an array, then you wrap that in an array and take the first element of that array, so all you end up with is the original array - remove the array wrap and you should be fine

edited May 30, 2011 at 13:05

answered May 30, 2011 at 13:00

Mick Hansen

2,70419 silver badges14 bronze badges

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

Comments

Hashim Al-Arab · Accepted Answer · 2011-05-30 15:33:10Z

1

function XMLReader()
{
    $MyArray = array();

    $doc = new DOMDocument(); 
    $doc->load( 'XMLFilePath.xml' ); 
    $info = $doc->getElementsByTagName( "leg" );
    foreach( $info as $Type )
    {
        $details = $Type->getElementsByTagName( "start_address" );
        $detail = $details->item(0)->nodeValue;     
        $MyArray [] = $detail; 
    }

    return $MyArray;
}

and same for end_Address. I wish this answer is helpful.

answered May 30, 2011 at 15:33

Hashim Al-Arab

1642 gold badges5 silver badges11 bronze badges

Comments

TJHeuvel · Accepted Answer · 2011-05-30 13:00:00Z

0

Just echo $start? Also, why do you make an array of start and then output the first element, it doesnt make any sense at all.

answered May 30, 2011 at 13:00

TJHeuvel

12.6k4 gold badges40 silver badges46 bronze badges

Comments

Sujit Agarwal · Accepted Answer · 2011-05-30 13:05:06Z

0

echo $xml->route->leg->start_address;

This is the edited answer. I checked it. Its working properly on the XML.

edited May 30, 2011 at 13:05

answered May 30, 2011 at 12:59

Sujit Agarwal

12.5k11 gold badges50 silver badges79 bronze badges

1 Comment

Sujit Agarwal Over a year ago

Use this code just after loading the xml file. you dont need the XPATH lines.

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

PHP Retrieve DATA from XML

4 Answers 4

Comments

Comments

Comments

1 Comment

Your Answer

Linked

Hot Network Questions

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

4 Answers 4

Comments

Comments

Comments

1 Comment

Your Answer

Sign up or log in

Post as a guest

Linked

Related