B4J Question [B4X] Xml2Map - read file xml

[Roberto P.]

Hi,
can anyone help me to read this simple xml file, Italian Cityes, that is making me waste a lot of time?

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<Auxdata>
<Header>
<Fieldtype name="City" key="1" hidden="0" type="string" />
<Fieldtype name="County" key="0" hidden="1" type="string" />
<Fieldtype name="ZIPCode" key="0" hidden="1" type="string" />
<Fieldtype name="Region" key="0" hidden="1" type="string" />
</Header>
<Elements>
<Element>
<Field name="City">Agrigento</Field>
<Field name="County">AG</Field>
<Field name="ZIPCode">92100</Field>
<Field name="Region">Sicilia</Field>
</Element>
<Element>
<Field name="City">Alessandria</Field>
<Field name="County">AL</Field>
<Field name="ZIPCode">15100</Field>
<Field name="Region">Piemonte</Field>
</Element>
<Element>
<Field name="City">Ancona</Field>
<Field name="County">AN</Field>
<Field name="ZIPCode">60100</Field>
<Field name="Region">Marche</Field>
</Element>

Dim aux As Map             = ParsedData.Get("Auxdata")
    Dim elements As Map     = aux.Get("Elements")
    Dim items As List         = elements.Get("Element")
    

    
    For i = 0 To items.Size -1
        
        Dim aField As Map = items.Get(i)
        
        For r=0 To aField.Size - 1
                    
            Dim aValues As List    = aField.GetValueAt(r)
            
            
            For z = 0 To aValues.Size -1
                Dim aData As Map = aValues.Get(z)
                                
                For z1 = 0 To aData.Size -1
                    Log(aData.GetKeyAt(z1) & " - " & aData.GetValueAt(z1))
                Next
                
            Next
            
        Next
        
    Next

I would like to read the values of the individual fields in this way:

For Each item As Map In items
        Dim City As String = item.Get("City")
        Dim County As String = item.Get("County")
        Dim ZIPCode As String = item.Get("ZIPCode")
        Dim Region As String = item.Get("Region")
    Next

Thank in advance
regards

 

[DonManfred]

Use xml2map

[B4X] Xml2Map - Simple way to parse XML documents

Nobody likes to parse XML. Parsing JSON is simple and fun. Parsing XML is tedious and boring. That is the reason behind the Xml2Map class. It internally parses the XML document and returns a Map with the parsed data. It is similar to parsing JSON. Tip: You can use this tool to help you with...

www.b4x.com

 

[Roberto P.]

Use xml2map

[B4X] Xml2Map - Simple way to parse XML documents

Nobody likes to parse XML. Parsing JSON is simple and fun. Parsing XML is tedious and boring. That is the reason behind the Xml2Map class. It internally parses the XML document and returns a Map with the parsed data. It is similar to parsing JSON. Tip: You can use this tool to help you with...

www.b4x.com

My example use it:

Dim xm As Xml2Map
    xm.Initialize
    Dim ParsedData As Map = xm.Parse(File.ReadString(File.DirApp & "/" & mFolderDownload, "cyty.xml"))

 

[Erel]

Code that uses GetKeyAt / GetValueAt is considered broken code.

You should upload a small project with the XML file and your code.

 

[Roberto P.]

Code that uses GetKeyAt / GetValueAt is considered broken code.

You should upload a small project with the XML file and your code.

attached. Thank you

 

[Erel]

The xml file is missing.

 

[Roberto P.]

The xml file is missing.

sorry, it's non included in the export

 

[Erel]

I like to use JsonGenerator for such cases:

Dim aux As Map = ParsedData.Get("Auxdata")
Dim jg As JSONGenerator
jg.Initialize(aux)
Log(jg.ToPrettyString(4))

1. The logs will help you understand the structure.
2. You can copy the json output to this tool: https://b4x.com:51041/json/index.html
It will give you the code that you need in order to parse it.

 

[Roberto P.]

I like to use JsonGenerator for such cases:

Dim aux As Map = ParsedData.Get("Auxdata")
Dim jg As JSONGenerator
jg.Initialize(aux)
Log(jg.ToPrettyString(4))

1. The logs will help you understand the structure.
2. You can copy the json output to this tool: https://b4x.com:51041/json/index.html
It will give you the code that you need in order to parse it.

it is not clear to me why you have to read xml and convert to Json, but it works!

the best tool!
thank you

 

[Erel]

Once you understand how to extract the data from the Map you no longer need the json step. It is only there to help you understand the data structure.

 

[DonManfred]

but it works!

You don´t need the conversion to json if you know the structure of the Map resulting.
It is a good tool to get an alternative structure to understand it.

 

[Roberto P.]

I hope it is useful to summarize the steps to get the result:

1: Read file xml in Map

Dim xm As Xml2Map
    xm.Initialize
    Dim ParsedData As Map = xm.Parse(File.ReadString(File.DirApp & "/" & mFolderDownload, "State.xml"))

2arser map to JSon

Dim JG As JSONGenerator
JG.Initialize(ParsedData)
Log(JG.ToPrettyString(4))

3:copy log: copy all toclipboard

4: paste in web tools https://b4x.com:51041/json/index.html and generate members

Dim parser As JSONParser
parser.Initialize(<text>)
Dim root As Map = parser.NextObject
Dim Auxdata As Map = root.Get("Auxdata")
Dim Header As Map = Auxdata.Get("Header")
Dim Fieldtype As List = Header.Get("Fieldtype")
For Each colFieldtype As Map In Fieldtype
 Dim Attributes As Map = colFieldtype.Get("Attributes")
 Dim hidden As String = Attributes.Get("hidden")
 Dim name As String = Attributes.Get("name")
 Dim type As String = Attributes.Get("type")
 Dim key As String = Attributes.Get("key")
 Dim Text As String = colFieldtype.Get("Text")
Next
Dim Elements As Map = Auxdata.Get("Elements")
Dim Element As List = Elements.Get("Element")
For Each colElement As Map In Element
 Dim Field As List = colElement.Get("Field")
 For Each colField As Map In Field
  Dim Attributes As Map = colField.Get("Attributes")
  Dim name As String = Attributes.Get("name")
  Dim Text As String = colField.Get("Text")
 Next
Next

5: remove JSon parser and use first map

Private Sub ImportStates
    Dim xm As Xml2Map
    xm.Initialize
    Dim ParsedData As Map = xm.Parse(File.ReadString(File.DirApp & "/" & mFolderDownload, "State.xml"))
    
    Dim Auxdata As Map = ParsedData.Get("Auxdata")
    Dim Header As Map = Auxdata.Get("Header")
    Dim Fieldtype As List = Header.Get("Fieldtype")
    For Each colFieldtype As Map In Fieldtype
        Dim Attributes As Map = colFieldtype.Get("Attributes")
        Dim hidden As String = Attributes.Get("hidden")
        Dim name As String = Attributes.Get("name")
        Dim Type As String = Attributes.Get("type")
        Dim key As String = Attributes.Get("key")
        Dim Text As String = colFieldtype.Get("Text")
    Next
    Dim Elements As Map = Auxdata.Get("Elements")
    Dim Element As List = Elements.Get("Element")
    For Each colElement As Map In Element
        Dim Field As List = colElement.Get("Field")
        For Each colField As Map In Field
            Log("--------")
            Dim Attributes As Map = colField.Get("Attributes")
            Dim name As String = Attributes.Get("name")
            Dim Text As String = colField.Get("Text")
            
            Log("Name = " & name & " " & Text)
            
        Next
    Next
    
End Sub