XML Generation Examples

In the examples which follow, AM represents an attribute mark, VM a value mark and SVM a subvalue mark. The results are generated from a dynamic array containing the following data:

CognosVMNorthgate Information SolutionsAM
Westerly PointAM
Market StreetVMBoundary WayAM
BracknellSVMBerkshireVMHemel HempsteadSVMHertsAM
RG12 1QBVMHP2 7HU

Example 1 – Single parameter substitution

Template

<address>
   <line2>svm2svm</line2>
</address>

Result

<address>
   <line2>Westerly Point</line2>
</address>

Comments

Extracts attribute 2 from the array and inserts it as the value of the node <line2>.

Example 2 – Value extraction

Template

<address>
   <line1>svm1,2svm</line1>
</address>

Result

<address>
   <line1>Northgate Information Solutions</line1>
</address>

Comments

Extracts attribute 1, value 2 from the array and inserts it as the value of the node <line1>.

Example 3 – Subvalue extraction

Template

<address>
   <line4>svm4,2,1svm</line4>
</address>

Result

<address>
   <line4>Hemel Hempstead</line4>
</address>

Comments

Extracts attribute 4, value 2, subvalue 1 from the array and inserts it as the value of the node <line4>.

Example 4 – Multiple parameter substitution

Template

<address>
   <line1>svm1,2svm</line1>
   <line3>svm3,2svm</line3>
   <line4>svm4,2,1svm</line4>
   <postcode>svm5,2svm<postcode>
</address>

Result

<address>
   <line1>Northgate Information Solutions</line1>
   <line3>Boundary Way</line3>
   <line4>Hemel Hempstead</line4>
   <postcode>HP2 7HU</postcode>
</address>

Comments

Extracts value 2 from each of attributes 1, 3 and 5, and subvalue 1 from value 2 of attribute 4, and inserts them as the values of appropriate XML nodes.

Example 5 – Optional line included

Template

<address>
   <line1>svm1,1svm</line1>
VM   <line2>svm2,1svm</line2>VM
   <line3>svm3,1svm</line3>
   <line4>svm4,1,1svm</line4>
   <postcode>svm5,1svm<postcode>
</address>

Result

<address>
   <line1>Cognos</line1>
   <line2>Westerly Point</line2>
   <line3>Market Street</line3>
   <line4>Bracknell</line4>
   <postcode>RG12 1QB</postcode>
</address>

Comments

This is similar to Example 4, but the <line2>  node has been added as optional data, referencing attribute 2, value 1 of the array. Because this evaluates to the text "Westerly Point", the <line2>  node is included in the result.

Example 6 – Optional line excluded

Template

<address>
   <line1>svm1,2svm</line1>
VM   <line2>svm2,2svm</line2>VM
   <line3>svm3,2svm</line3>
   <line4>svm4,2,1svm</line4>
   <postcode>svm5,2svm<postcode>
</address>

Result

<address>
   <line1>Northgate Information Solutions</line1>
   <line3>Boundary Way</line3>
   <line4>Hemel Hempstead</line4>
   <postcode>HP2 7HU</postcode>
</address>

Comments

This is similar to Example 5, but in this case, the optional node references attribute 2, value 2 of the array. Because this evaluates to a null string, the <line2>  node is omitted from the result.

Example 7 – Substitute parameters

Template

<address line1="svm1,1svm" vmline2="svm2,1svm" vmpostcode="svm5,1svm">
</address>

Result

<address line1="Cognos" line2="Westerly Point" postcode="RG12 1QB">
</address>

Comments

This shows how you can set the values of node attributes, rather than node values. The line2  attribute is optional, but is included in the result because attribute 2, value 1 of the array evaluates to the text "Westerly Point".

Example 8 – Exclude a parameter

Template

<address line1="svm1,2svm" vmline2="svm2,2svm" vmpostcode="svm5,2svm">
</address>

Result

<address line1="Northgate Information Solutions" postcode="HP2 7HU">
</address>

Comments

This is similar to Example 7, but the optional line2  attribute is omitted from the result because attribute 2, value 1 of the array evaluates to a null string.

Example 9 – Alternate delimiters

Template

<__nis_cont paramDelim="%" optionalDelim="$"/>
<address>
   <line1>%1,2%</line1>
$   <line2>%2,2%</line2>$
   <line3>%3,2%</line3>
   <line4>%4,2,1%</line4>
   <postcode>%5,2%<postcode>
</address>

Result

<address>
   <line1>Northgate Information Solutions</line1>
   <line3>Boundary Way</line3>
   <line4>Hemel Hempstead</line4>
   <postcode>HP2 7HU<postcode>
</address>

Comments

This is similar to Example 6, but the delimiters have been changed to percent signs instead of subvalue marks, and dollar signs instead of value marks.