xml > csv into mysql with a sprinkle of php

[morleymouse]

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nice descriptive subject there

okay, I am now fine with putting CSV data into mysql database and doing stuff with it from there. easy.

but then I come across crazy merchants with xml feeds! really what are they playing at, anyway its just your normal xml like:

<?xml version="1.0"?>
<Products>
blah blah
</Products>

with lots of stuff in the middle that I want.

I was hoping excel would open it up how I wanted, but it hasn't so im a bit stumped as to where to go next.

Idealy Id like some script to parse that into proper CSV then I could run thatthrouhg the other script wich puts it into database. But if thats going to be a bit tricky just something that could get it as CSV on my computer and id upload from there.

Just looking for pointers really, what should I be searching for?

as always, help much appreciated

[QuaiD]

Dan,

The latest version of Excel (not sure if its XP or 2003) loads them fine.

Im using 2002 at the mo (must have loaded an old version when I last rebuilt) but that works with some using the "Data - Import External Data - Import Data" feature

Cheers
Jez

[morleymouse]

damn, im stuck with 2000

will go see what I can find, any other ideas welcome though

[Melter]

Found this xml converter if it's any use to you, priced at about £22.

http://www.rustemsoft.com/home.htm#

[apathy-]

http://www.hansanderson.com/php/xml
a free php class to parse xml into arrays

include 'xmlize.inc';
//grab xml file into a string and parse it with the array
$file = file('xml_file.xml');
$xml_in_array_format = xmlize(implode('', $file));
//traverse it's nasty naming format and grab the item you want into a readable variable
$something = $xml_in_array_format['something'][0]['#'];
//do some random sql query with our spanky new xml data in a variable
$result = mysql_query("INSERT INTO table(field) VALUES '{$something}'"); 

the naming format it uses to fit everything into an array is a bit grim, but our friend here is print_r():

echo '<pre>', print_r($xml_array), '</pre>'; 

i just made up the code abovce, but it should all check out ok in use.

good luck