PHP Namespace XML Array Issue

Question

Hello I am using the NOAA buoy RSS feed to create and insert variables into Mysql. There is a tag entitled:

<georss:point>45.565 -34.123</georss:point>

Which I have broken out as such:

$xmlString = file_get_contents($feed_url); 
$xmlString = str_replace('georss:point','point',$xmlString);  
$xml = new SimpleXMLElement($xmlString); 
$items = $xml->xpath('channel/item'); 
$closeItems = array(); foreach($items as $item) 
{     
$latlng = explode(' ',trim($item->point));
$lat = $latlng[0];
$lng = $latlng[1];  
}

However the issue that I am running into, the variables for $lat and $lng are the same for all the feed articles. Each article will have a unique $lat and $lng, so I know I am doing something wrong here. Thanks Again,

Can you post the code that compares or outputs the values of $lat and $lng, as well as any intervening code that may alter their values? — George Cummins
– George Cummins, Commented Aug 15, 2011 at 3:38
Also, do you mean that the two variable values match each other, or that $lat is always one value and $lng is another, but they are the same for every record? — George Cummins
– George Cummins, Commented Aug 15, 2011 at 3:40
Hi George, the first record returned is Ship - 1969-12-31 19:00:00 lat=39.933 lng=-75.142 and the second record is Station 44065 - Entrance To New York Harbor lat=39.933 lng=-75.142 Notice the name is different but the lat and lng variables are the same — matt colley
– matt colley, Commented Aug 15, 2011 at 3:43
Replacing the georss namespace is just lazy. SimpleXML is capable of dealing with namespaces, see php.net/manual/en/simplexmlelement.children.php#example-4737 — Phil
– Phil, Commented Aug 15, 2011 at 3:56

George Cummins · Accepted Answer · 2011-08-15 04:07:18Z

1

The problem is here:

foreach($items as $item) 
{     
    $latlng = explode(' ',trim($item->point));
    $lat = $latlng[0];
    $lng = $latlng[1];  
}

You assign the variables for each record, but never use them inside the loop. Assuming you have more code after the loop, that code will always receive only the last values assigned for $lat and $lng.

To correct the problem, place your record-specific code within the foreach() loop:

foreach($items as $item) 
{     
    $latlng = explode(' ',trim($item->point));
    $lat = $latlng[0];
    $lng = $latlng[1];
    // Do something with $lat and $lng here  
}

edited Aug 15, 2011 at 4:07

answered Aug 15, 2011 at 3:46

George Cummins

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2 Comments

matt colley Over a year ago

Hi George, doesnt seem to want to work for me. Perhaps I am not understanding correctly. Here is what I placed: foreach($items as $item, $lat as $latlng[0], $lng as $latlng[1])

George Cummins Over a year ago

@matt colley: Please see my updated answer for a description of the place to insert your code.

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