Generating a Basic XML file from PHP

GaryAC

Hi,

I need to create an XML file from PHP, but I haven't got a clue how to do it. Not sure if printf statements are suffice??

So I was hoping someone could explain to me how to wite XML into a file from PHP.

My scenario is I have a DVD shop, and I wish to make re-orders. I gather all the DVDs that have gone below the Stock level and then create an XML file containing each DVD_ID and the QTY.

Thanks for any help, it would be much appreciated

Regards

GaryAC

superwormy

Wellll... since XML is just plain text... it should be pretty easy.

If you want to write to a file, you should look at:
www.php.net/fopen
www.php.net/fread
www.php.net/fwrite
www.php.net/fclose

You can't use print() unless you're tryign to send output to the user... which you didn't say you were donig.

planetsim

Why not just create it using PHP and have the headers as an XML file instead of creating one. But it depends on if you are wanting it to update all the time, and if its coming from a database or is to be stored as XML data

GaryAC

Thanks for your replies.

Basically what I need to do is simulate a basic stock control system that generates orders in XML format for a DVD shop.

What I have at current is a page with a button, that when pressed checks a MySQL db to see if orders need to be generated i.e. stock is low.

If it is I need to generate a vary basic order form in XML that stores the ID and the number required for each DVD.

Once created this file does not need to be updated or changed. Just overwritten if new orders are to be generated.

Would it be a case of using fwrite?

GaryAC

I already have a DTD created. This is the XML code I would like to write to an XML file:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<!DOCTYPE catalogue SYSTEM "M:\Final_Year\Web Applications Technologies\order.dtd">
<catalogue>
<order id="1">
<dvdid>3</dvdid>
<qty>20</qty>
</order>
<order id="2">
<dvdid>1</dvdid>
<qty>20</qty>
</order>
</catalogue>

However instead of hard coding id 1, dvdid 3, qty 20 for example, these will be values derived from PHP variables.

Can you write PHP variable values to text files ok??

Thanks for your help its much appreciated

Weedpacket

The same as for an HTML file. What happens between the < > is irrelevant.

GaryAC

Cheers for your replies. It all works now!!!