php xpath Syntax

Question

if this code:

$s = 'BrowseNodes/BrowseNode';
$temp_bnid=$item->xpath($s);
echo '<pre>
Root Search:
';
print_r($temp_bnid);
echo '</pre>';
die('Halted for testing');

gives this output:

Root Search:
Array
(
    [0] => SimpleXMLElement Object
        (
            [BrowseNodeId] => 2522032011
            [Name] => Balls
            [Ancestors] => SimpleXMLElement Object
                (
                    [BrowseNode] => SimpleXMLElement Object
                        (
                            [BrowseNodeId] => 196601011
                            [Name] => Baby & Toddler Toys
                            [Ancestors] => SimpleXMLElement Object
                                (
                                    [BrowseNode] => SimpleXMLElement Object
                                        (
                                            [BrowseNodeId] => 165795011
                                            [Name] => Categories
                                            [IsCategoryRoot] => 1
                                            [Ancestors] => SimpleXMLElement Object
                                                (
                                                    [BrowseNode] => SimpleXMLElement Object
                                                        (
                                                            [BrowseNodeId] => 165793011
                                                            [Name] => Toys & Games
                                                    )

                                                )

                                        )

                                )

                        )

                )

        )

)

Halted for testing

and this code:

$s = 'BrowseNodes/BrowseNode[Name=Categories]';
// I also tried $s = 'BrowseNodes/BrowseNode[Name="Categories"]'; 
$temp_bnid=$item->xpath($s);
echo '<pre>
Root Search:
';
print_r($temp_bnid);
echo '</pre>';
die('Halted for testing');

gives this output:

Root Search:
Array
(
)

Halted for testing

What am I doing wrong, when I am trying to get the BrowseNode node that contains the "Name" node where the "Name" node value is "Categories"? An alternate solution for this issue would be to select the node on the existence of the "IsCategoryRoot" node, but I really want to learn how to do the other query as it might help me more in the future. Niether way worked with the queries I treid.

Posting the XML you're trying to search might be more helpful than the dump of the SimpleXML object. — Brenton Alker
– Brenton Alker, Commented Feb 8, 2012 at 16:57
Can you give a sample of XML input please ? It will be easier to help you. But given what i see : maybe Name is an attribute and if so, you can try : BrowseNodes/BrowseNode[@Name="Categories"]. — Vincent Biragnet
– Vincent Biragnet, Commented Feb 8, 2012 at 17:00

Brenton Alker · Accepted Answer · 2012-02-08 17:21:29Z

1

I'm not sure because I can't read the SimpleXML dump effectively, but I think what you have is an arbitrary descendant with a child called Name that contains "Categories". So something like:

BrowseNodes/BrowseNode//BrowseNode[Name="Categories"]

edited Feb 8, 2012 at 17:21

answered Feb 8, 2012 at 17:06

Brenton Alker

9,1223 gold badges38 silver badges37 bronze badges

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

4 Comments

TecBrat Over a year ago

Thanks. That did the trick. So it was the double slash to indicate unknown depth and I did need the quotes for "Categories". I think I got it. I tried to click the up arrow to mark this answer helpful, but I don't have enough reputation.

Brenton Alker Over a year ago

Great! If it was correct, you can click the tick to accept the answer as correct.

TecBrat Over a year ago

Thanks. I thought that was what the up and down votes were for. (Brand new to actually posting in this forum, even though I've been getting answers from it for a couple of years.)

Brenton Alker Over a year ago

Up and Down are used to vote for useful answers - you can do that on anyones question/answer (once you have enough rep). If you ask a question, you choose which answer is correct.

dweeves · Accepted Answer · 2012-02-08 17:02:23Z

1

did you try this ?

$s="BrowseNodes/BrowseNode/Name[text()='Categories']/..";

Which should select the parent node (ie: browseNode) for a Name node which text is Categories.

answered Feb 8, 2012 at 17:02

dweeves

5,64524 silver badges28 bronze badges

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

php xpath Syntax

2 Answers 2

4 Comments

Comments

Your Answer

Hot Network Questions

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

2 Answers 2

4 Comments

Comments

Your Answer

Sign up or log in

Post as a guest

Related