How do I create variables from XML data in PHP?

Question

Been trying to figure this out for a short while now but having now luck, for example I have an external xml document like this:

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Answer 1

The simplest method is to use SimpleXML:

$xml = simplexml_load_string(... your xml here...);

$values = array()
foreach($xml->positions as $pos) {
   $values[$pos] = $pos;
}

You do not want to auto-create variables in the manner you suggest - it litters your variable name space with garbage. Consider what happens if someone sends over an XML snippet which has _SERVER and you create a variable of that name - there goes your $_SERVER superglobal.