XML Feeds - How do I use them?

[DanielCoe]

Hi,

This is bit of an open question, and I'm not after any hidden tips and tricks from anyone, but I 'm totally fine with CSV data files, loading them into MySQL - creating pages with PHP etc, but now a lot of merchants are supplying XML feeds, sometimes instead of CSV files, but I have not got a clue what to do with them.

I don't think you can load XML into MySQL, unlike Oracle.

So I take it you have to have the basic XML file on your server and then parse it with PHP, but how do you search for say a distinct list of categories out of an XML feed, like you would on a DB?

In essence what is the best way to use an XML Feed?

Ta very much

Daniel

[Rich]

I just download the xml and import it into mysql the same as CSV. As far as I know, you can't do a LOAD DATA into mysql from an XML file, so I just go thru it and do an insert for each record.

I was always put off XML, and still prefer CSV due to the KISS factor, but the simplexml functions in PHP5 make it a lot easier to navigate around an xml file.

[DanielCoe]

So you just take the xml, strip the tags and load it like a normal data file into mysql then.

I suppose I could do that where a merchant only offers XML feeds.

Do you know of anyone who has built an affiliate site using just XML and PHP and no MySQL?

Otherwise, I guess I'll have to wait for PHP5 on my host sites then, that could be another year or two yet though.

Daniel

[ianm]

If you've got a recent version of Excel then it shoud let you load XML files - you could then save them as CSVs to upload to your web server.

Not much help if you want to transfer them directly to your own server, but might be a quick fix while you sort out a more permanant solution.