Lua

Get XML Attribute Value by Path

See more XML Examples

Demonstrates how to get an attribute value by path. Lua

local chilkat = require("chilkat")

-- The XML used in this example contains the following:
-- This example will get the value of the "spay-neuter" attribute for each pig.

-- <pig-rescue>
--   <herd name="Cathy">
--     <species name="pot belly pig">
--         <animal>
--             <name>Molly II</name>
--             <birth>February, 1998</birth>
--             <in-date>January, 2000</in-date>
--             <from>Middle Ave.</from>
--             <gender spay-neuter="yes">F</gender>
--             <info>Molly came from a place where an old, ill man had too many animals.
--                       The animals were seldom fed and rats would eat the newborn piglets.
--                       When Molly was found at one week old, she was the only piglet of
--                       her siblings who did not get stepped on by a cow. She is a sweet,
--                       friendly pig who likes to hang out on Cathy's porch on the lounge
--                       pad.
--             </info>
--         </animal>
--         <animal>
--             <name>Nigel</name>
--             <birth>June, 1991</birth>
--             <in-date>August, 1991</in-date>
--             <from>Breeder</from>
--             <gender spay-neuter="no">M</gender>
--             <info>
--                  Nigel was the first pig and the reason for the rescue in the
--                  first place. He is 13 now and doing well, but takes a number
--                 of medications, as you can see below.
--             </info>
--         </animal>
--     </species>
--   </herd>
-- </pig-rescue>

local xml = chilkat.Xml.new()
local success = xml:load_xml_file("qa_data/xml/twoPigs.xml")

-- Use the ChilkatPath method to return the value of a particular attribute at a given path.
-- A path ending with "(attributeName)" will return the value for the given attribute.
local path = "herd|species|animal[0]|gender|(spay-neuter)"
local attrValue = xml:chilkat_path(path)
print("1st pig spay-neuter: " .. attrValue)

path = "herd|species|animal[1]|gender|(spay-neuter)"
attrValue = xml:chilkat_path(path)
print("2nd pig spay-neuter: " .. attrValue)

-- We could also do it like this:
path = "herd|species|animal[i]|gender|(spay-neuter)"
local i = 0
while i < xml:num_children_at("herd|species") do
    xml.i = i
    print("spay-neuter for pig number " .. (i + 1) .. ": " .. xml:chilkat_path(path))
    i = i + 1
end