How to get XML from array of objects with xml2js?

Question

I want to use xml2js to build XML file from array of objects. Is there a way to do it?

This doen't work because xml2js.Builder() expects a single object.

export const buildXML = (data: any[]) => {
  const builder = new xml2js.Builder();
  return builder.buildObject(data)
}

This returns array of XMLs but I need a single one:

export const buildXML = (data: any[]) => {
  const builder = new xml2js.Builder();
  return data.map(obj => builder.buildObject(obj))
}

The resulted XML should be used in this function

export const downloadFile = (data: any[], fileName = 'generator_result', fileFormat: any) => {
  let parsedData: any
  const FILE_TYPE = fileFormat === 'xml' ? XML_TYPE : EXCEL_TYPE;
  if (fileFormat === 'xml') {
    parsedData = buildXML(data);
  } else {
    parsedData = downloadAsExcel(data, fileFormat)
  }
  const fileData = new Blob([parsedData], {type: FILE_TYPE});
  saveAs(fileData, fileName + '.' + fileFormat);
}

UPD If I do this then nothing happens...I mean no console.log(x)...this means that something is wrong in line const x = builder.buildObject(data) isn't it?

export const buildXML = (data: any[]) => {
  const builder = new xml2js.Builder();
  const x = builder.buildObject(data)
  console.log('x:', x)
  return x
}

What's the result you're expecting? XML needs a root element. So you'll need at least a parent object containing your array. — lbsn
– lbsn, Commented Dec 28, 2021 at 10:30
@lbsn my task is to get a single XML file which contains all the data from array of objects. It's not a problem if XML will have some other root element (no strict rules about XML output structure)....the most important part is to have all data inside it. Unfortunattely I don't know how to do this — qweezz
– qweezz, Commented Dec 28, 2021 at 10:40

lbsn · Accepted Answer · 2021-12-28 10:54:02Z

1

You can just pass your array to the builder:

const data = [{ item: '1' }, { item: '2' }, { item: '3' }];
const buildXML = (data) => {
  const builder = new xml2js.Builder();
  return builder.buildObject(data);
};
const doc = buildXML(data);

Since XML must have a root element xml2js will add it for you producing this result:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8" standalone="yes"?>
<root>
  <item>1</item>
  <item>2</item>
  <item>3</item>
</root>

If you'd like to have more control about the root element just wrap your array in a parent object with a single property (property's name will become the root element):

const data = {data: [{ item: '1' }, { item: '2' }, { item: '3' }]};
const buildXML = (data) => {
  const builder = new xml2js.Builder();
    return builder.buildObject(data);
  };
const doc = buildXML(data);

Result:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8" standalone="yes"?>
<data>
  <item>1</item>
  <item>2</item>
  <item>3</item>
</data>

answered Dec 28, 2021 at 10:54

lbsn

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3 Comments

qweezz Over a year ago

Actually this doesn't work for me. I added UPD comment in initial post with explanations

lbsn Over a year ago

That should definitely work: stackblitz. Can you share more code or put together a working example with your issue?

qweezz Over a year ago

Thank you very much. Everything works fine. I tested on localhost with data mocked...and nothing happened as I mentioned. But I uploaded project to dev server with real data - everything started to work as needed.

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