Read elements of a xml file?????? - Shell Programming and Scripting

ahmedwaseem2000 · #1 (**permalink**) 01-23-2008

Hi,

What is a good way to read elements of an xml file? i did try xmllint it doesnt provide a function to output values of a tree. In the below example when i specify from Family2 I need the name of the father then the output should be DAVE. Appreciate any help provided in this regards.

Many thanks.

for instance:

Quote:

Family1 ---> Father----->JOHN
Family1 --->Mother----->ANN
Family2 ---> Father----->DAVE
Family2 ---> MOM----->LISA
<TREE>
<Family1>
<Father>
<name = John />
</Father>
<Mother>
<name = ANN />
</Mother>
</Family1>

<Family2>
<Father>
<name=DAVE />
</Father>
<Mother>
<name= Lisa />
</Mother>
</Family2>
</TREE>

fpmurphy · #2 (**permalink**) 01-23-2008

One way is to use sed repeatedly as the following example shows.

Code:

 sed -n '/\<Family2\>/,/\<\/Family2\>/p' file | sed -n '/\<Father\>/,/\<\/Father\>/p' | sed -n 's/\<name=\(.*\)\/\>/\1/p'

It outputs "DAVE".

A better way is to use something like the XML extension to gawk (XMLgawk)

ahmedwaseem2000 · #3 (**permalink**) 01-23-2008

the above code is not working for me. and also could you please explain me in more details about XMLgawk? Thanks

ennstate · #4 (**permalink**) 01-23-2008

Does this works?

Code:

sed -n '/Family2/{n;n;s/<name=\(.*\)\/>/\1/p}' /tmp/Input

Thanks
Nagarajan G

ahmedwaseem2000 · #5 (**permalink**) 01-23-2008

thats not the solution i am looking for, actually the format could be anything like all the data in one line or multiple lines. or in any well formed format of xml. I need a generic solution to pick the element values.

Anyways, Thanks for the efforts you put in it.

matrixmadhan · #6 (**permalink**) 01-23-2008

I highly recommend using a XML::Parser for it

Its very easy to use and implement.

Initially for one of our tasks, without thinking about XML::Parser, I did wrote a mini XML::Parser which turned to be much complicated to maintain later.

Switch to parsers that are already available

ahmedwaseem2000 · #7 (**permalink**) 01-23-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by matrixmadhan

I highly recommend using a XML::Parser for it

Its very easy to use and implement.

Initially for one of our tasks, without thinking about XML::Parser, I did wrote a mini XML::Parser which turned to be much complicated to maintain later.

Switch to parsers that are already available

I am not able to locate any. Could you please point me to any???

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