Topic awaiting preservation: XML::Parser or XML::LibXML (perl parsing xml)

For practice I made a simple xml file, and I want to read it into a perl script. I think I should be using either XML::Parser or XML::LibXML

The second choice seems to be easier, but I can't get it to work.

XML::Parser is just confusing, even after reading a tutorial. Which should I be using, a stream or a style?

Basically, I want to be able to get a list of all race->name's and then later, I will want to get elements within race->name(if eq to the race name the user chose) If I have the following file (easier on the eyes: races.xml)

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="ISO-8859-1"?>

<racedata>

  <race>

    <name>human</name>

    <str>0</str>

    <dex>0</dex>

    <con>0</con>

    <int>0</int>

    <wis>0</wis>

    <cha>0</cha>

  </race>

  <race>

    <name>dwarf</name>

    <str>0</str>

    <dex>0</dex>

    <con>2</con>

    <int>0</int>

    <wis>0</wis>

    <cha>-2</cha>

  </race> 

  <! -- some more data 7 total races --> 

</racedata>

I've already read through "perldoc XML::Parser" but it didn't help me understand how to use it.

Then I tried XML::LibXML (which had about 3 or 4 dependancies, is it less common to be installed?) but this script doesn't work:

#!/usr/bin/perl -w

use strict;

use XML::LibXML;



sub xml_print

{

  my $file_path = "./${dir_data}/races.xml";

  

  my $parser = XML::LibXML->new();

  my $tree = $parser->parse_file($file_path);

  my $root = $tree->getDocumentElement;

  my @races = $root->getElementsByTagName('race');

  

  foreach my $cur_node (@races)

  {

    my $cur_race;

    if($cur_node->hasAttribute('name'))

    {

      $cur_race = $cur_node->getAttribute('name');

      print "${cur_race}\n";

    }

    {

      print "does not have attribute\n";

    }

    

    my @nodes = $cur_node->getChildrenByTagName('name');

    foreach $_ (@nodes)

    {

      print "$_\n";

    }

  }

}

&xml_print;

and this is what I get as output

does not have attribute

XML::LibXML::Element=SCALAR(0x8264488)

does not have attribute

XML::LibXML::Element=SCALAR(0x82643c8)

does not have attribute

XML::LibXML::Element=SCALAR(0x8264794)

does not have attribute

XML::LibXML::Element=SCALAR(0x8264788)

does not have attribute

XML::LibXML::Element=SCALAR(0x826477c)

does not have attribute

XML::LibXML::Element=SCALAR(0x8264770)

does not have attribute

XML::LibXML::Element=SCALAR(0x8264764)

I think this is what is happening @races is an array of the elements that have the tag name 'races' and from their I need to get the child element 'name' and get the text within that element. I don't think I want attribute because I think attribute is inside a tag which is part of an element.

thanks,
--monkey



[This message has been edited by ninmonkey (edited 01-08-2004).]

My experience has been with XML::Parser. I haven't used LibXMLand we don't do much XML work here so I can't say which is more popular. But I believe they both both work pretty much the same they just use different parsers.

Usually I just wrap the XML::Parser with something like XML::SimpleObject or XML::Simple..

Take a look at this FAQ it's got tons of good info on which solution may help you.



.:[ Never resist a perfect moment ]:.