simplexml sorting data

Gosman
Gosman used Ask the Experts™
on
I'm trying to sort an xml file (which I have no control over) alphabetically. Is there a way to do this using simplexml?

Basically I'm trying to create a dropdown list using the xml returned, the dropdown needs to be sorted alphabetically by <description>

From the xml attached this is what I would like to achieve

<select>
<option value="gr-tx">Barryscourt Castle</option>
<option value="ab-hy">Cork Heritage Park</option>
</select>
<locations>
   <location>
    <description>Cork Heritage Park</description>
	<id>ab-hy</id>
  </location>
  <location>
	<description>Barryscourt Castle</description>
    <id>gr-tx</id>
  </location>
</locations>

Open in new window

Comment
Watch Question

Do more with

Expert Office
EXPERT OFFICE® is a registered trademark of EXPERTS EXCHANGE®
View Solution Only
V4nP3rs13

Commented: 
<?php

$xml = '<locations>
   <location>
    <description>Cork Heritage Park</description>
	<id>ab-hy</id>
  </location>
  <location>
	<description>Barryscourt Castle</description>
    <id>gr-tx</id>
  </location>
</locations>';


preg_match_all("#<description>(.+?)</description>#", $xml, $ddesc);
preg_match_all("#<id>(.+?)</id>#", $xml, $did);
$fdesc = array();
$fid = array();
for($i = 0; $i <= count($ddesc[0]); $i++) {
array_push($fdesc, $ddesc[0][$i]);
}
for($i = 0; $i <= count($did[0]); $i++) {
array_push($fid, $did[0][$i]);
}
sort($fdesc);
sort($fid);

echo '<select>';
for($i = 1; $i < count($fdesc); $i++) {
  echo '<option value="'.$fid[$i].'">'.$fdesc[$i].'</option>';
}
echo '</select>';
?>

Open in new window

Commented:
or if you call the file externally from other site.. the code will be this:

<?php

$xml = file_get_contents("http://mysite.com/my_xml_file.xml");

preg_match_all("#<description>(.+?)</description>#", $xml, $ddesc);
preg_match_all("#<id>(.+?)</id>#", $xml, $did);
$fdesc = array();
$fid = array();
for($i = 0; $i <= count($ddesc[0]); $i++) {
array_push($fdesc, $ddesc[0][$i]);
}
for($i = 0; $i <= count($did[0]); $i++) {
array_push($fid, $did[0][$i]);
}
sort($fdesc);
sort($fid);

echo '<select>';
for($i = 1; $i < count($fdesc); $i++) {
  echo '<option value="'.$fid[$i].'">'.$fdesc[$i].'</option>';
}
echo '</select>';

Open in new window

V4nP3rs13

Commented:
Does it work ??
JavaScript Best Practices

Save hours in development time and avoid common mistakes by learning the best practices to use for JavaScript.

Learn More!
Gosman

Author

Commented:
Perfect.

Just had to change $ddesc[0] & $did[0] to $ddesc[1] & $did[1] so the tags don't get included in the dropdown.
Gosman

Author

Commented:
Actually V4nP3rs13 it doesn't work.

It only appears to work if the list has  2 <location> nodes. Any more than this and the description and id don't match. See code attached.

Any ideas?
<?php

$xml = '<locations>
   <location>
    <description>Cork Heritage Park</description>
	<id>ab-hy</id>
  </location>
  <location>
	<description>Barryscourt Castle</description>
    <id>gr-tx</id>
  </location>
    <location>
	<description>Bunratty Castle</description>
    <id>bc-xy</id>
  </location>

</locations>';


preg_match_all("#<description>(.+?)</description>#", $xml, $ddesc);
preg_match_all("#<id>(.+?)</id>#", $xml, $did);
$fdesc = array();
$fid = array();
for($i = 0; $i <= count($ddesc[0]); $i++) {
array_push($fdesc, $ddesc[0][$i]);
}
for($i = 0; $i <= count($did[0]); $i++) {
array_push($fid, $did[0][$i]);
}
sort($fdesc);
sort($fid);

echo '<select>';
for($i = 1; $i < count($fdesc); $i++) {
  echo '<option value="'.$fid[$i].'">'.$fdesc[$i].'</option>';
}
echo '</select>';
?>

Open in new window

V4nP3rs13

Commented:
oh I knew it must me a problem... i will recode this and post you another code
Gosman

Author

Commented:
Don't worry V4nP3rs13 I managed to sort the problem by using simplexml and a multi dimensional array.

Thank you anyway
V4nP3rs13

Commented:
Now it works:
<?php
$xml = '<locations>
   <location>
    <description>Cork Heritage Park</description>
	<id>ab-hy</id>
  </location>
  <location>
	<description>Barryscourt Castle</description>
    <id>gr-tx</id>
  </location>
    <location>
	<description>Bunratty Castle</description>
    <id>bc-xy</id>
  </location>

</locations>';


preg_match_all("#<description>(.+?)</description>#", $xml, $fdesc);
preg_match_all("#<id>(.+?)</id>#", $xml, $fid);

$item = array();

for($i = 0; $i <= count($fdesc[0]); $i++) {
  $item[$i] = $fdesc[0][$i]."'||-item-||'".$fid[0][$i];
}
sort($item);

echo '<select>';
for($i = 1; $i < count($item); $i++) {
  list($b[$i], $a[$i]) = explode("'||-item-||'", $item[$i]);
  echo '<option value="'.str_ireplace(array("<id>", "</id>"), null, $a[$i]).'">'.$b[$i].'</option>';
}
echo '</select>';
?>

Open in new window

Do more with

Expert Office
Submit tech questions to Ask the Experts™ at any time to receive solutions, advice, and new ideas from leading industry professionals.

Start 7-Day Free Trial