Using xpath on a String in Java?

Question

I've made code that sends an XML request to a server and delivers XML back to me (with nodes and all) and I was wondering how to go about using XPath to strip down the XML to just the content. I have it working right now where I the returned string is saved into a external document, and then the Xpath reads the external document. But I'd like to cut out this process down.

Any ideas?

javamonkey79 · Accepted Answer · 2011-02-10 18:16:45Z

1

Many XML libraries allow for String manipulation of XML & XPATH.

There are examples with dom4j here.

From the link provided:

String text = "<person> <name>James</name><address><city>New York</city></address></person><person> <name>Billy</name> </person>";
Document document = DocumentHelper.parseText(text);

List list = document.selectNodes( "//person/name" );
Node node = document.selectSingleNode( "//person/address/city" );

edited Feb 10, 2011 at 18:16

answered Feb 10, 2011 at 17:30

javamonkey79

17.8k38 gold badges118 silver badges178 bronze badges

Sign up to request clarification or add additional context in comments.

4 Comments

Hanna Over a year ago

Could you explain the @name ? It seems strange because I am used to @ meaning attribute. But in the string, provided, name is not an attribute.

javamonkey79 Over a year ago

I just copied it from the 'Powerful Navigation with XPath' example, there isn't really any text that matches it. You're right it matches on attribute. I will remove it, it is confusing and doesn't add anything.

Hanna Over a year ago

Just out of curiosity, where do I put the library after I download it? I'm using Eclipse and I'm not sure how to properly import it!

javamonkey79 Over a year ago

I would suggest taking the time to learn and use maven. Aside from that, you have to download it, drag it into your project from your download location, right click and select "add to build path". That should work.

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

Using xpath on a String in Java?

1 Answer 1

4 Comments

Your Answer

Hot Network Questions

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

1 Answer 1

4 Comments

Your Answer

Sign up or log in

Post as a guest

Related