How do I read XML in JavaScript?

Question

Alright, so I got this xml file:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8" ?> 
<level>
    <tiles>
        <row>1000000000000001</row>
        <row>1000000000000001</row>
        <row>1000000000000001</row>
        <row>1000000000000001</row>
        <row>1000000000000001</row>
        <row>1000000000000001</row>
        <row>1000000000000001</row>
        <row>1111111111111111</row>
    </tiles>
</level>

and I got my XML reading code:

var xmlDoc = document.implementation.createDocument("","",null);

and

            function loadXML(){
                xmlDoc.load("levels/test.xml");
                xmlDoc.onload = readLevel();
            }
            function readLevel() {


                throw(xmlDoc);

                if(xmlDoc.getElementsByTagName("tiles")[0].hasChildNodes()){
                    var rowNum = xmlDoc.getElementsByTagName("tiles").getChildNodes();
                    level = [];
                    for(var i = 0; i < rowNum; i++){
                        level[i] = [];
                        var tempStr = xmlDoc.getElementsByTagName("tiles").childNodes[i].textContent;
                        for(var j = 0; j < 16; j++){
                            level[i][j] = parceInt(tempStr.charAt(j));
                        }

                    }
                }

                for (var i = 0; i < level.length; i++) {
                    blockArray[i] = []; // Create the second level for this index
                    for (var j = 0; j < level[i].length; j++) {
                        var tempImg = new Image();
                        tempImg.src = "images/block" + level[i][j] + ".png";
                        blockArray[i][j] = new block(j * blockSize, i * blockSize, level[i][j], false, false, tempImg);
                        //throw('blockArray['+i+']'+j+'] = ' + level[i][j]);
                    }
                }
            }

Now why isn't this working? It constantly says xmlDoc.getElementsByTagName("tiles")[0] is undefined and that xmlDoc.getElementsByTagName("tiles").length = 0. So what am I doing wrong?

AFAIK, there shouldn't be a space between < and ?. How is xmlDoc being populated? And why do you throw an exception? — Marcel Korpel
– Marcel Korpel, Commented Jan 23, 2011 at 21:30
No, "shouldn't be a space" means you'll have to remove it. ;-) — Marcel Korpel
– Marcel Korpel, Commented Jan 23, 2011 at 21:35

Tim Down · Accepted Answer · 2011-01-23 23:39:32Z

1

I'd use XMLHttpRequest and its responseXML property instead, which will work in all major browsers. Example:

function readLevel(xmlDoc) {
    alert(xmlDoc.documentElement.tagName);
    // Your existing code goes here
};

var createXmlHttpRequest = (function() {
    var factories = [
        function() { return new XMLHttpRequest(); },
        function() { return new ActiveXObject("Msxml2.XMLHTTP.6.0"); },
        function() { return new ActiveXObject("Msxml2.XMLHTTP.3.0"); },
        function() { return new ActiveXObject("Microsoft.XMLHTTP"); }
    ];

    for (var i = 0, len = factories.length; i < len; ++i) {
        try {
            if ( factories[i]() ) return factories[i];
        } catch (e) {}
    }
})();

var xmlHttp = createXmlHttpRequest();
xmlHttp.onreadystatechange = function() {
    if (xmlHttp.readyState == 4 && xmlHttp.status == 200) {
        readLevel(xmlHttp.responseXML);
    }
};

xmlHttp.open("GET", "levels/test.xml", true);
xmlHttp.send(null);

answered Jan 23, 2011 at 23:39

Tim Down

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2 Comments

CyanPrime Over a year ago

Sorry, but in this code it seems readLevel never gets called.

Tim Down Over a year ago

@CyanPrime: How do you mean? Do you mean by reading it or running it? readLevel() is called in the onreadystatechange handler. I've tried it and it works in all major browsers.

sdleihssirhc · Accepted Answer · 2011-01-23 21:28:39Z

0

According to SitePoint, all the arguments are required in createDocument. Maybe the falsy values are tripping you up.

answered Jan 23, 2011 at 21:28

sdleihssirhc

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6 Comments

CyanPrime Over a year ago

Okay, I tried that and got this: An attempt was made to create or change an object in a way which is incorrect with regard to namespaces" code: "14

CyanPrime Over a year ago

Using this code: var xmlDoc = document.implementation.createDocument("w3.org/1999/xhtml",'xml:lang',null);

Marcel Korpel Over a year ago

@CyanPrime – Also see MDC.

CyanPrime Over a year ago

Now using this var xmlDoc = document.implementation.createDocument('w3.org/XML/1998/namespace', 'xml:lang',null); still not working

Quentin Over a year ago

That namespace is reserved for (specific) element names starting with <xml:...>. You shouldn't need to specify a namespace at all.

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