PHP Array to XML dilemma

Question

I am trying to get some data off my DB and then trying to display it in XML and JSON. After I select everything from the db, I add everything to an array called $data. So depending on how I want it to be displayed, I can simply json_encode() it or use some lib ( This One ) to convert to XML. Now my problem/question is that I am trying to form the output style within the array so all I have to do in encode it and output it.

So this is the array data

Array (

[0] => Array
    (
        [Key1] => value1
        [Key2] => value2
        [Key3] => value3
        [Key4] => value4
    )

[1] => Array
    (
        [Key1] => value1
        [Key2] => value2
        [Key3] => value3
        [Key4] => value4
    )

[2] => Array
    (
        [Key1] => value1
        [Key2] => value2
        [Key3] => value3
        [Key4] => value4
    )

)

and I want it to be come out in this form in XML and Json

<xml>
<result>
<key1>value1</key1>
<key2>value2</key2>
<key3>value3</key3>
<key4>value4</key4>
</result>

<result>
<key1>value1</key1>
<key2>value2</key2>
<key3>value3</key3>
<key4>value4</key4>
</result>

<result>
<key1>value1</key1>
<key2>value2</key2>
<key3>value3</key3>
<key4>value4</key4>
</result>
</xml>

Now what I am trying to find a solution for a way to make those arrays with a key result so when I convert the array directly to json or xml, I dont have to make additional changes to make every result entry abide to the result tag.

Is there a way to do this? Adding every array to key result overrides all the entries and outputs only the last entry.

Thanks

Do you want the exact same object structure for JSON as you have listed for XML? — Jeff Lambert
– Jeff Lambert, Commented Jul 22, 2011 at 20:17
yes.. basically I just want to construct the output in that array and depending on what is needed (xml or json) I want to simply encode the array for xml or json — Kartik
– Kartik, Commented Jul 22, 2011 at 20:22

Saad Imran. · Accepted Answer · 2011-07-22 21:08:19Z

Lucky you, I was just writing this kind of thing for myself... Basically you supply a list of elements you want to use, by default it will use they key/index. hope this helps.

<?PHP

class Serializer
{   
    private static function getTabs($tabcount)
    {
        $tabs = '';
        for($i = 0; $i < $tabcount; $i++)
        {
            $tabs .= "\t";
        }
        return $tabs;
    }

    private static function asxml($arr, $elements = Array(), $tabcount = 0)
    {
        $result = '';
        $tabs = self::getTabs($tabcount);
        foreach($arr as $key => $val)
        {
            $element = isset($elements[0]) ? $elements[0] : $key;
            $result .= $tabs;
            $result .= "<" . $element . ">";
            if(!is_array($val))
                $result .= $val;
            else
            {
                $result .= "\r\n";
                $result .= self::asxml($val, array_slice($elements, 1, true), $tabcount+1);
                $result .= $tabs;
            }
            $result .= "</" . $element . ">\r\n";
        }
        return $result;
    }

    public static function toxml($arr, $root = "xml", $elements = Array())
    {
        $result = '';
        $result .= "<" . $root . ">\r\n";
        $result .= self::asxml($arr, $elements, 1); 
        $result .= "</" . $root . ">\r\n";
        return $result;
    }
}

    $arr = Array (
    0 => Array
    (
        'Key1' => 'value1',
        'Key2' => 'value2',
        'Key3' => 'value3',
        'Key4' => 'value4',
    ),

    1 => Array
    (
        'Key1' => 'value1',
        'Key2' => 'value2',
        'Key3' => 'value3',
        'Key4' => 'value4',
    ),

    2 => Array
    (
        'Key1' => 'value1',
        'Key2' => 'value2',
        'Key3' => 'value3',
        'Key4' => 'value4',
    ),
);
?>

Example 1

echo Serializer::toxml($arr, "xml", array("result"));

    //output
<xml>
    <result>
        <Key1>value1</Key1>
        <Key2>value2</Key2>
        <Key3>value3</Key3>
        <Key4>value4</Key4>
    </result>

    <result>
        <Key1>value1</Key1>
        <Key2>value2</Key2>
        <Key3>value3</Key3>
        <Key4>value4</Key4>
    </result>
    <result>

        <Key1>value1</Key1>
        <Key2>value2</Key2>
        <Key3>value3</Key3>
        <Key4>value4</Key4>
    </result>
</xml>

Exmaple 2

echo Serializer::toxml($arr, "xml", array("result", "item"));

// output
<xml>
    <result>
        <item>value1</item>
        <item>value2</item>
        <item>value3</item>
        <item>value4</item>
    </result>

    <result>
        <item>value1</item>
        <item>value2</item>
        <item>value3</item>
        <item>value4</item>
    </result>
    <result>

        <item>value1</item>
        <item>value2</item>
        <item>value3</item>
        <item>value4</item>
    </result>
</xml>

Example 3

echo Serializer::toxml($arr, "xml", array(null, "item"));

// output
<xml>
    <0>
        <item>value1</item>
        <item>value2</item>
        <item>value3</item>
        <item>value4</item>
    </0>

    <1>
        <item>value1</item>
        <item>value2</item>
        <item>value3</item>
        <item>value4</item>
    </1>
    <2>
        <item>value1</item>

        <item>value2</item>
        <item>value3</item>
        <item>value4</item>
    </2>
</xml>

Jeff Lambert · Accepted Answer · 2011-07-22 20:08:15Z

2

I don't think you would need to use a library for this.

echo("<xml>");
foreach($data as $k => $v) {
    echo("<result>");
    foreach($v as $i => $j)
        echo("<".$i.">" . $j . "</".$i.">");
    echo("</result>");
}
echo("</xml>");

answered Jul 22, 2011 at 20:08

Jeff Lambert

24.7k4 gold badges72 silver badges98 bronze badges

1 Comment

Kartik Over a year ago

Hello, I know I can do that but the library supports nested arrays as well.. but, this doesnt help me because when I encode with json it just shows the entry but doesnt label the entries with the result tag, it just shows the entries.. –

Michael Berkowski · Accepted Answer · 2011-07-22 20:08:33Z

2

Assuming your outer array is called $array use the [] syntax. This will give you an array key called 'result' which itself is an indexed array. When converted to XML, I believe (though have not tested) that its output will be what you are looking for.

$results = array('result' => array());

// Looping over the outer array gives you the inner array of keys
foreach ($array as $result) {
    // Append the array of keys to the results array
    $results['result'][] = $result;
}

print_r($results);
echo json_encode($results);

Now use your array to XML library to make the XML.

answered Jul 22, 2011 at 20:08

Michael Berkowski

271k47 gold badges450 silver badges395 bronze badges

Comments

chonglo Paso · Accepted Answer · 2013-12-25 05:25:48Z

foreach ($data as $key => $value) {

                    //change false/true to 0/1
                    if(is_bool($value))
                    {
                            $value = (int) $value;
                    }

                    // no numeric keys in our xml please!
                    if (is_numeric($key))
                    {
                            // make string key...
                            $key = (singular($basenode) != $basenode) ? singular($basenode) : 'item';
                    }

                    // replace anything not alpha numeric
                    $key = preg_replace('/[^a-z_\-0-9]/i', '', $key);

                    // if there is another array found recursively call this function
                    if (is_array($value) || is_object($value))
                    {
                            $node = $structure->addChild($key);

                            // recursive call.
                            $this->to_xml($value, $node, $key);
                    }

                    else
                    {
                            // add single node.
                            $value = htmlspecialchars(html_entity_decode($value, ENT_QUOTES, 'UTF-8'), ENT_QUOTES, "UTF-8");

                            $structure->addChild($key, $value);
                    }
            }

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

PHP Array to XML dilemma

4 Answers 4

Comments

1 Comment

Comments

Comments

Your Answer

Hot Network Questions

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

4 Answers 4

Comments

1 Comment

Comments

Comments

Your Answer

Sign up or log in

Post as a guest

Related