XML Newbie question

[Matt_T_hat]

I have a simple XML format

<Block>
<Block_Title></Block_Title>
<BlockCode></BlockCode>
<PreProcess></PreProcess>
</Block>
<Config></Config>

Which I have had to wrap with <root></root> but other than that it's basic and does the job

Now here is the code that will deal with the contents.

Module_Name and Block_Name are used to build the file and path relative to the function (that's the job of another bit of code).


[vbscript]
<%
Function DoBlockPut(Module_Name, Block_Name)

Dim mydoc, objLst

Set mydoc=Server.CreateObject("Microsoft.XMLDOM")
Set objLst = Server.CreateObject("Microsoft.XMLDOM")

mydoc.async=false

mydoc.load(Server.MapPath(Module_Name & "\Blocks\" & Block_Name & ".block"))

'Debugging
Response.Write Server.MapPath(Module_Name & "\Blocks\" & Block_Name & ".block") & "<br />"

if mydoc.parseError.errorcode<>0 then
Response.write "Error with Block_XML (" & mydoc.parseError.errorcode & ") with " & Module_name & " - " & Block_Name & "<br />"
else
' proceed
Set objLst = mydoc.getElementsByTagName("Block")

dim title, code, btype

Set title = mydoc.getNamedItem("Block_Title")
Set code = mydoc.getNamedItem("BlockCode")
Set btype = mydoc.getNamedItem("PreProcess")

'Call StartBox(title)

if btype = 0 then
server.execute(code)
Else
response.write(code)
end if

'Call EndBox

end if

end function
%>
[/vbscript]

however it seems I can do no right with this section

Set objLst = mydoc.getElementsByTagName("Block")

dim title, code, btype

Set title = mydoc.getNamedItem("Block_Title")
Set code = mydoc.getNamedItem("BlockCode")
Set btype = mydoc.getNamedItem("PreProcess")

which has now come to look a little silly as it has not worked no matter what I have done.

I have to admit I have no idea what I am doing. with this XML stuff for the main part and when it comes to MSXML ...foobar bar bar foo ...I have no idea.

[Matt_T_hat]

Hello? Help...

[CornedBee]

Your method of traversal of the tree is completely wrong. You want to call getNamedItem on objLst, not myDoc. Even so, the calls will fail. Read carefully through the documentation of the methods you use and find out what they really do.

Also, this line is completely useless:
Set objLst = Server.CreateObject("Microsoft.XMLDOM")

[Matt_T_hat]

so I am starting to learn...

and wow I compleatly failed to ask any actual question(s)...

I need a holiday - XML is too tricky.

Why does every introductory guide talk at length about the history of XML and then in great detail about the format of XML and sometimes the use of XML and then end with a few snippits of code that are no earthly use at all?

is it too much to ask for a simple demo script in PHP. ASP or french for all it matters, that loads a file and then doesn't do a lot more than load it.

Maybe an example of save and one of add node...

Any takers?

[CornedBee]

Why does every introductory guide talk at length about the history of XML and then in great detail about the format of XML and sometimes the use of XML and then end with a few snippits of code that are no earthly use at all?

Because the tutorials you view are probably about XML itself - what it is for, what it looks like etc. Not about how to make use of it within programming languages. But every XML tutorial probably mentions DOM and SAX, the two main methods of using XML. So look for DOM and SAX tutorials in your language of choice.