Filtering XML from static XML files to create forum-style website/application to be able to compile to AIR

I have hit a roadblock.

My project is this:

(1) Take old backup files from an old online bulletin board/forum and convert the users, topics/posts and forums list to 3 separate XML files.
(2) Create an application which will show the old online bulletin board/forum entries and allow for the information in the XML files to be searched (the need or lack of need for a server is irrelevant, as either way is fine).
(3) If possible, wrap the application to an Adobe AIR file.

I have completed No. 1 above, but I am having an extremely difficult time filtering the XML files and searching the XML file content.  I have been trying to use the Spry Accordion for listing the Main Forums in the Label, and then in the Content are, put the subforums.  All Main Forums have a parent_id = 0, and the subforums have a parent_id = to the Main forums forum_id.

The posts/topics are referenced by post_id, topic_id and forum_id and poster_id (which relates to a user_id).

The users are referenced by user_id.

I want to be able to have a master/detail type of situation so that when the Main forums (and subforums) are clicked on in the Accordion Panel, the related information about how many posts/topics, last poster, etc. are displayed in a separate area.  And then when a particular post is clicked on, that thread is opened and in a separate area, the details of the poster/user are listed (such as email address, etc.).

I have had some success with the Accordion Panel Tab with the Main Forums listed when using MySQL with Dreamweaver and XHTML, but I have hit a roadblock when using the DataGrid in Flash, using AdvancedDataGrid in Flex, Spry XML Datasets and Spry regions in Dreamweaver when trying to get the subforums into the Accordion Panel Content area and using master/detail regions, using JavaScript to filter the XML files so that all forums with parent_id=0 are considered Main Forums and then listing each subforum which relates to the appropriate Main forum.

Doing No. 3 above is quite easy so long as I use HTML, Flash or Flex, but if it is necessary to use PHP and MySQL, that is not a problem, as the AIR application is optional.

I provide a sample of the three (3) XML files.

If my question is not as clear as it needs to be for help, please ask any questions, and I will reply with as much information as I can.

Thanks for any help,
edsager

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//Forums.xml
<DataTable>
	<forums>
		<forum_id>59</forum_id>
		<parent_id>81</parent_id>
		<forum_name>AAO</forum_name>
		<forum_posts>160</forum_posts>
		<forum_topics>50</forum_topics>
		<forum_last_post_id>88185</forum_last_post_id>
		<forum_last_poster_id>17100</forum_last_poster_id>
		<forum_last_post_subject>Re: E-3 denied in Sydney based on lack of exerience</forum_last_post_subject>
		<forum_last_post_time>Tuesday, May 9, 2006 3:54 PM</forum_last_post_time>
		<forum_last_poster_name>Andrea Chempinski</forum_last_poster_name>
	</forums>
	<forums>
		<forum_id>80</forum_id>
		<parent_id>0</parent_id>
		<forum_name>Adjustment of Status and 245(i)</forum_name>
		<forum_posts>12038</forum_posts>
		<forum_topics>4561</forum_topics>
		<forum_last_post_id>2928</forum_last_post_id>
		<forum_last_poster_id>6226</forum_last_poster_id>
		<forum_last_post_subject>Re: Is this EWI????</forum_last_post_subject>
		<forum_last_post_time>Wednesday, February 28, 2007 2:33 PM</forum_last_post_time>
		<forum_last_poster_name>Barry Glazer</forum_last_poster_name>
	</forums>
</DataTable>
 
//posts.xml
 
<DataTable>
	<posts>
		<post_id>395</post_id>
		<topic_id>122</topic_id>
		<forum_id>4</forum_id>
		<poster_id>12000</poster_id>
		<post_time>Friday, August 30, 2002 10:42 AM</post_time>
		<post_username>A. Bikash Roy</post_username>
		<post_subject>Re: Lafayette Became a Citizen</post_subject>
		<post_text>The INA actually has some obscure provision about how family members can get citizenship for dead people. Boy, I did not know that the White House Bushes were related to the old French nobility.</post_text>
	</posts>
</DataTable>
 
//users.xml
<DataTable>
	<users>
		<user_id>1</user_id>
		<username>admin</username>
		<user_email>webmaster@aila.org</user_email>
		<user_from>unavailable</user_from>
		<user_website>unavailable</user_website>
	</users>
</DataTable>