Upload file, XML parse.

[bschwarz]

I'm going to be working on a project in a couple of weeks where the client wants to upload a report created by microsoft access (I'm thinking as XML).

Then be parsed by php and stuck into a mysql database, this would happen on a monthly basis.

So I need to upload the files, process them and then delete them.

I initally got the client to send me an xml file, it was 2MB!!
He said that he would clean up the report and do it properly.

Any thoughts, comments or tips for the process that lies ahead?

What should I be considering for the project?

Trying to make this as trouble free as possible 😉

Cheers

[Shrike]

Expat (www.php.net/xml) is the easiest way. It even has a function called xml_parse_into_struct() will will turn your XML document into an array (which you can then easily create an SQL query from).

[lilleman]

Personally, I would have used the [man]DOMXML[/man] functions. They might be a little hard to understand in the beginning but when you get the hang of it, you'll probably love them.

[Shrike]

The DOM approach is great, but possibly overkill in this situation where data just needs to be inserted into a database.

I'd say DOM is only really useful when you need to manipulate the structure of the XML. Having said that it's worth getting to know to see what's possible 🙂

[lilleman]

Yes, maybe you're right. I've never worked with the Expat functions but if you only need the data then maybe they're better to use.