XML::Simple Module - XML Parser and Generator

Perl Tutorials - Herong's Tutorial Examples

Dr. Herong Yang, Version 5.10

Perl Tutorials - Herong's Tutorial Examples

∟XML::Simple Module - XML Parser and Generator

This chapter provides tutorial examples and notes on the XML::Simple module. Topics include XMLin() method to parse an XML string into a hash; XMLout() method to generator an XML string from a hash; XML::Simple options: forcearraym, suppressempty, and keyattri; working with XML hashes.

XMLin() and XMLout() Methods

XML Parsing Options

"forcearray" - Forcing Element Contents as Arrays

"suppressempty" - Parsing Empty Elements

"keyattr" - Namings Attributes as Keys

XmlSimpleHash.pl - XML Hash Example

Conclusions:

XML::Simple is really simple to use.
Element tags are parsed into hash keys, with hash values pointing to arrays containing the elements contents.
Attribute names are parsed into hash keys, with hash values being the attribute value strings.
Hashes and arrays are used as references in the resulting hash.
The order of child elements might be changed in the resulting hash.
Child elements of the same tag are grouped in to array.
If you want to maintain the difference between attributes and child elements with only text contents, you should use the "forcearray => 1" option.

If you need to know more about XML, please read my other book: "Herong's Tutorial Notes on XML Technologies".

Table of Contents

About This Book

Perl on Linux Systems

ActivePerl on Windows Systems

Data Types: Values and Variables

Expressions, Operations and Simple Statements

User Defined Subroutines

Perl Built-in Debugger

Name Spaces and Perl Module Files

Symbolic (or Soft) References

Hard References - Addresses of Memory Objects