Embedding data in HTML using XML

[NuAlpha]

I am running Apache 2.0.47 with PHP 4.3.4 and MySQL.

I am trying to work with a supplier to get their current stock of each product from their website dynamically. However, they do not want to allow database access in any form and insist on checking everything manually despite having several thousand products on their site.

What I would like to do is possibly have them embed an XML tag with the current stock available at the top of their product pages so that they don't have to worry about some perceived (or not) risk to their database.

I was wondering how I could go about remotely fetching the tag with PHP without having to load the whole page, thereby saving on bandwidth usage.

Would this even be the best (alternate) route as opposed to a direct database connection? 😕

I am trying to keep things as simple as possible on their end without the need to install any extra software, modules, etc.

Thanks!

[sid]

why dont you just generate a plain xml output if needed?

say, your file is product.php; call it like this:
product.php?mode=xml
and provide only the xml. the db queries should be the same anyway.

[NuAlpha]

Actually, I am using PHP and the supplier I am working with is using ASP.