XPATH method for retuning multiple dynamic results from a XML file using PHP [closed]

Answer 1

Not really sure what you want, since your question isn't quite clear. Even so I've coded a little snippet to show you how you can work with XPath conditions to retrieve the area nodes you want for a given selection on the form.

Just think of the values on the $examples array as possible values submitted on the form.

<?php
$xml = <<<XML
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<root>
    <area>
        <photographer_id>1</photographer_id>
        <photographer>John</photographer>
        <image>a</image>
    </area>
    <area>
        <photographer_id>1</photographer_id>
        <photographer>John</photographer>
        <image>b</image>
    </area>
    <area>
        <photographer_id>1</photographer_id>
        <photographer>John</photographer>
        <image>c</image>
    </area>
    <area>
        <photographer_id>2</photographer_id>
        <photographer>Fred</photographer>
        <image>a</image>
    </area>
</root>
XML;

$sxe = new SimpleXMLElement($xml);

$examples = array(
    array('id' => 1, 'name' => 'John'),
    array('name' => 'Fred'),
    array('id' => 1, 'name' => 'Fred'),
);

foreach ($examples as $example) {
    $conditions = array();

    if (!empty($example['id'])) {
        $conditions[] = "photographer_id = {$example['id']}";
    }

    if (!empty($example['name'])) {
        $conditions[] = "photographer = '{$example['name']}'";
    }

    $xpath_condition = implode(' and ', $conditions);
    echo "{$xpath_condition}\n";
    $area = $sxe->xpath("//area[{$xpath_condition}]");

    print_r($area);
}

Output:

photographer_id = 1 and photographer = 'John'
Array
(
    [0] => SimpleXMLElement Object
        (
            [photographer_id] => 1
            [photographer] => John
            [image] => a
        )

    [1] => SimpleXMLElement Object
        (
            [photographer_id] => 1
            [photographer] => John
            [image] => b
        )

    [2] => SimpleXMLElement Object
        (
            [photographer_id] => 1
            [photographer] => John
            [image] => c
        )
)
photographer = 'Fred'
Array
(
    [0] => SimpleXMLElement Object
        (
            [photographer_id] => 2
            [photographer] => Fred
            [image] => a
        )
)
photographer_id = 1 and photographer = 'Fred'
Array
(
)

Answer 2

Hi had a simillar problem with a long in script, I have taken the idea from there and came up with this i hope it helps

<?php

$xml = simplexml_load_file("photo.xml");

for ($i = 0; $i < count($xml); $i++){

if(isset($_GET["LocationName"]))
{
    $photographer_id = $_GET["LocationName"];
}

$result = $xml->xpath('/root/area[photographer_id="' . $photographer_id . '"]  ');
}


if(isset($_GET["photographer"]))
{
    $photographer = $_GET["photographer"];
} 

if(isset($_GET["images"]))
{
    $image = $_GET["images"];

    //$result = $xml->xpath('/root/area[photographer_id="' . $photographer_id . '"] and /root/area[photographer="' . $photographer . '"]');

}

//echo $photographer_id;
//echo $photographer;
//echo $image;

$filteredResult = array();

foreach($result as $obj){
    if(in_array($photographer, (array)$obj) == 1 || $photographer == 'x'){ 
        if(in_array($image, (array)$obj) || $image == 'x'){
            array_push($filteredResult, $obj);
        }
    }
}

foreach($filteredResult as &$obj){
    //how to access values in the object
    echo $obj->{'photographer'};
    echo $obj->{'image'};
}
echo $obj->{'image'};

    ?>

the last echo should give you some pointers

Answer 3

Here's a way to do it:
(1) get the filter values from the form and build a querystring for xpath:

$fields = array( // fieldname => value for "all"
    'photographer_id' => '',
    'photographer' => 'x',
    'image' => '0');

foreach ($fields as $fieldname => $fieldvalue)
    if (isset($_GET[$fieldname]) && trim($_GET[$fieldname]) != $fieldvalue)
    $query[] = "$fieldname = '$_GET[$fieldname]'";

if (isset($query)) 
    $query = "[" . implode(' or ', $query) . "]"; else $query = "";

(2) use xpath to filter XML and display selected nodes

$xml = simplexml_load_string($x); // assume XML in $x
$results = $xml->xpath("area$query");

foreach ($results as $result) 
    echo "image $result->image by $result->photographer ($result->photographer_id)<br />";

see it working: http://codepad.viper-7.com/ciboJg