Find a replace string in xml file with python

Question

I'm trying to replace a string in an xml file with python. For example:

I want to change enabled to disbabled in:

<s:global-method-security secured-annotations="enabled"/>

Is it best to search and replace the whole line? Or is there a way to just replaced the enabled on the line if I find a line that matches?

spicavigo · Accepted Answer · 2011-10-17 20:52:50Z

3

A simple way could be:

for line in fileh:
    line = line.replace("enabled", "disabled")
    ouf.write(line)

You do not need to explicitly find "enabled" in the string before replacing it.

However, since its an xml file, I would suggest using the xml parser to modify it.

answered Oct 17, 2011 at 20:52

spicavigo

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2 Comments

Danny Over a year ago

This looks like it should work, but what is ouf.write exactly? I can't find anything on it, typo?

spicavigo Over a year ago

Outf is a file handle for a temporary file. Once you are done with the replace process, you delete the old file and rename the temporary file.

chown · Accepted Answer · 2011-10-17 20:55:09Z

1

Just use string.replace():

for line in whateverXMLText.splitlines(): # or whatever arbitrary loop
    if line.find("enabled") > -1:
        print "Replacing 'enabled' on line: %s" % line
        line.replace("enabled", "disabled")

A better solution though, may be to use an xml parser (xml.dom.minidom), and change the attribute during parsing.

edited Oct 17, 2011 at 20:55

answered Oct 17, 2011 at 20:50

chown

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