Help getting XML data into an array.

[Elwood]

Hi,

 

I'm working on a project and I've run into a problem and I can't seem to figure out how to fix it or even what is wrong no matter how much I google.  I have data in an xml file that I need to read and use to create an array.

 

Here is the XML (food.xml):

 

   <?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>

      <Foods>

         <Food type='fruit' color='yellow'>banana</Food>

         <Food type='vegetable' color='green'>lettuce</Food>

         <Food type='meat' color='red'>beef</Food>

      </Foods>

 

Here is my code to work with the XML (xml_data.php)

<?php

$file = 'food.xml';
$xml = simplexml_load_file($file);
$food = array();

// Example variables
$type = 'grain';
$name = 'corn';

// Adds example variables to array
$food->key = $type;
$food[$type] = $name;

// Displays XML data and add to array
for($i=0;$i<sizeof($xml);$i++){
	
	// Assigns XML data to variables
	$type = $xml->Food[$i][type];
	$name = $xml->Food[$i];
	
	// Prints variables to see that XML data is actually read
	echo '(Inside for loop) '.$type.'...'.$name.'<br>';
	
	// Assigns variables to array
	$food->key = $type;
	$food[$type] = $name;
}

echo '<br>Size of array is '.sizeof($food).'<br><br>';

// Prints each entry in the array
foreach($food as $key=>$value){
	echo '(Inside foreach) Key is '.$key.'<br>';
	echo '.....and Value is '.$value.'<br>';
}
?>

The example variables when placed into the array work but when I use the same method to place the XML variables into the array it does not.

 

Why does this not work?  How can I get it to work?

 

I'm attaching files as well, just in case.  Both files are saved in the same directory.

 

Thanks for any help.

food.xml

xml_data.php

[Ch0cu3r]

You need to change these lines 

	$type = $xml->Food[$i][type];
	$name = $xml->Food[$i];

so the values are returned as strings not objects

	$type = (string) $xml->Food[$i]['type'];
	$name = (string) $xml->Food[$i];

Also remove this from lines 12 & 25

$food->key = $type;

$food is an array not an object so you cant set properties to an array. Remove them it is not needed.

[Elwood]

THANK YOU!!!  

 

Thank you so much for your help.