Xpath

http://www.w3.org/TR/xpath

By Michael Dockery
[email protected]
 What is XPath?
XPath is a cross-platform language for addressing parts of an XML document!

XML documents can be represented as a tree view of nodes

...very similar to tree view of PC folders.

XPath uses a pattern expression to identify nodes in an XML document.

An XPath pattern is a slash-separated list of child element names that describe a path through the XML
document. The pattern "selects" elements that match the path.
The following XPath expression selects all the price elements of all the cd elements of the catalog
element: /catalog/cd/price

...or for verbage from Microsoft:

XPath provides a uniform and compact syntax for addressing XML documents.
Instead of writing code to explicitly walk through a document's structure looking for nodes that match some criteria,
an XPath expression can be used to encapsulate that entire process....
Xpath can be used with
many other technologies!
Here are some examples:
Java
-Applications
-Applets
-Servlets
-JSPs
PHP
MS .NET
XSLT
Xquery (Apache Xindice)
XML Schema
 Simple XML example
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="ISO-8859-1"?>
<catalog>
<cd country="USA">
<title>Empire Burlesque</title>
<artist>Bob Dylan</artist>
<price>10.90</price>
</cd>
<cd country="UK">
<title>Hide your heart</title>
<artist>Bonnie Tyler</artist>
<price>9.90</price>
</cd>
<cd country="USA">
<title>Greatest Hits</title>
<artist>Dolly Parton</artist>
<price>9.90</price>
</cd>
</catalog>
 XPath Syntax
If the path starts with a slash ( / ) it represents an absolute path to an element!

If the path starts with two slashes ( // ) then all elements in the document that fulfill the
criteria will be selected (even if they are at different levels in the XML tree)!

The following XPath expression selects all the cd elements in the document:
//cd
 XPath Expressions
This selects the ROOT element catalog:
/catalog

This selects all the cd elements of the catalog element:

/catalog/cd

This selects all the price elements of all the cd elements of the catalog element:
/catalog/cd/price

This selects all the cd elements that have a price element with a value larger than 10.80:
/catalog/cd[price>10.80]
 XPath Expressions
Wildcards ( * ) can be used to select unknown XML elements.

This selects all the child elements of all the cd elements of the catalog element:
/catalog/cd/*

This selects all the price elements that are grandchild elements of the catalog element:
/catalog/*/price

This selects all price elements which have 2 ancestors:

/*/*/price

This selects all elements in the document:

//*
 XPath Expressions
This selects the first cd child element of the catalog element:
/catalog/cd[1]

This selects the last cd child element of the catalog element (Note: There is no function named first()):
/catalog/cd[last()]

This selects all the cd elements of the catalog element that have a price element:
/catalog/cd[price]

This selects all the cd elements of the catalog element that have a price element with a value of 10.90:
/catalog/cd[price=10.90]

This selects all the price elements of all the cd elements of the catalog element that have a price element
with a value of 10.90:
/catalog/cd[price=10.90]/price
 XPath Syntax...
In XPath all attributes are specified by the @ prefix.

This XPath expression selects all attributes named country:

//@country

This XPath expression selects all cd elements which have an attribute named country:
//cd[@country]

This XPath expression selects all cd elements which have any attribute:
//cd[@*]

This XPath expression selects all cd elements which have an attribute named country with a value of 'UK':
//cd[@country='UK']
 XPath Examples
<Basket>
<Cherry flavor=‘sweet’/>
<Cherry flavor=‘bitter’/>
<Cherry/>
<Apple color=‘red’/>
<Apple color=‘red’/>
<Apple color=‘green’/>
…
</Basket>

Select all of the red apples:

//Basket/Apple[@color=‘red’]
 XPath Examples
<Basket>
<Cherry flavor=‘sweet’/>
<Cherry flavor=‘bitter’/>
<Cherry/>
<Apple color=‘red’/>
<Apple color=‘red’/>
<Apple color=‘green’/>
…
</Basket>

Select all cherries that have some flavor:

//Basket/Cherry[@flavor]
 XPath Functions
String Functions
concat() Returns the concatenation of all its arguments. string=concat(val1, val2, ..)

contains() Returns true if the second string is contained within the first string, otherwise it returns false.
bool=contains(val,substr)

normalize-space() Removes leading and trailing spaces from a string. string=normalize-space(string)

starts-with() Returns true if the first string starts with the second string, otherwise it returns false.
bool=starts-with(string,substr)

string() Converts the value argument to a string. string(value)

string-length() Returns the number of characters in a string. number=string-length(string)

substring() Returns a part of the string in the string argument. string=substring(string,start,length)

substring-after() Returns the part of the string in the string argument that occurs after the substring in the
substr argument. string=substring-after(string,substr)
substring-before() Returns the part of the string in the string argument that occurs before the substring in
the substr argument. string=substring-before(string,substr)

translate() Performs a character by character replacement. It looks in the value argument for characters
contained in string1, and replaces each character for the one in the same position in the string2.
string=translate(value,string1,string2)
 XPath Functions
String Functions (Examples)
concat('The',' ','XML') Result: 'The XML'
contains('XML','X') Result: true
normalize-space(' The XML ') Result: 'The XML'

starts-with('XML','X') Result: true

string(314) Result: '314'
string-length('Beatles') Result: 7

substring('Beatles',1,4) Result: 'Beat'

substring-after('12/10','/') Result: '10'
substring-before('12/10','/') Result: '12'

translate('12:30','30','45') Result: '12:45'

translate('12:30','03','54') Result: '12:45'
translate('12:30','0123','abcd') Result: 'bc:da'
 XPath Functions
Node Set Functions
count()
Returns the number of nodes in a node-set number=count(node-set)
id()
Selects elements by their unique ID node-set=id(value)
last()
Returns the position number of the last node in the processed node list number=last()
local-name()
Returns the local part of a node. A node usually consists of a prefix, a colon, followed by the local
name string=local-name(node)
name()
Returns the name of a node string=name(node)
namespace-uri()
Returns the namespace URI of a specified node uri=namespace-uri(node)
position()
Returns the position in the node list of the node that is currently being processed number=position()
 XPath Functions
Number Functions
number() Converts the value argument to a number number=number(value)
Example: number('100') Result: 100

round() Rounds the number argument to the nearest integer integer=round(number)

Example: round(3.14) Result: 3

sum() Returns the total value of a set of numeric values in a node-set number=sum(nodeset)
Example: sum(/cd/price)

ceiling() Returns the smallest integer that is not less than the number argument number=ceiling(number)
Example: ceiling(3.14) Result: 4

floor() Returns the largest integer that is not greater than the number argument number=floor(number)
Example: floor(3.14) Result: 3
 XPath Functions
Boolean Functions
boolean() Converts the value argument to Boolean and returns true or false bool=boolean(value)
false() Returns false false()
Example: number(false()) Result: 0
true() Returns true true()
Example: number(true()) Result: 1

not() Returns true if the condition argument is false, and false if the condition argument is true bool=not(condition)
Example: not(false())

lang() Returns true if the language argument matches the language of the the xsl:lang element, otherwise it returns
false bool=lang(language)
<?xml version="1.0"?>
XPath in XSLT
<!-- *********** Resumes for People *********** -->
<PEOPLE>

<PERSON PERSONID="p1"> <NAME>Mark Wilson</NAME>

<ADDRESS>911 Somewhere Circle, Canberra, Australia</ADDRESS>
<TEL>(++612) 12345</TEL>
<FAX>(++612) 12345</FAX>
<EMAIL>[email protected]</EMAIL>
</PERSON>

<PERSON PERSONID="p2">
<NAME>Tracey Wilson</NAME>
<ADDRESS>121 Zootle Road, Cape Town, South Africa</ADDRESS>
<TEL>(++2721) 531 9090</TEL>
<FAX>(++2721) 531 9090</FAX>
<EMAIL>Tracey [email protected]</EMAIL>
</PERSON>

<PERSON PERSONID="p3">
<NAME>Jodie Foster</NAME>
<ADDRESS>30 Animal Road, New York, USA</ADDRESS>
<TEL>(++1) 3000 12345</TEL>
<FAX>(++1) 3000 12345</FAX>
<EMAIL>Jodie [email protected]</EMAIL>
</PERSON>

<PERSON PERSONID="p4">
<NAME>Lorrin Maughan</NAME>
<ADDRESS>1143 Winners Lane, London, UK</ADDRESS>
<TEL>(++94) 17 12345</TEL> <FAX>(++94) 17 12345</FAX>
<EMAIL>Lorrin [email protected]</EMAIL>
</PERSON>

<PERSON PERSONID="p5">
<NAME>Steve Rachel</NAME>
<ADDRESS>90210 Beverly Hills, California, USA</ADDRESS>
<TEL>(++1) 2000 12345</TEL> <FAX>(++1) 2000 12345</FAX>
<EMAIL>Steve [email protected]</EMAIL>
</PERSON>

</PEOPLE>
 XPath in XSLT
eXtensible Stylesheet Language Transformation ...transform an XML file into an HTML file or another text-based format...
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<xsl:stylesheet xmlns:xsl="http://www.w3.org/TR/WD-xsl">
<xsl:template match="/">
<HTML>
<BODY>
<TABLE BORDER="2">
<TR>
<TD>Name</TD>
<TD>Address</TD>
Xpath Expression
<TD>Tel</TD>
<TD>Fax</TD>
<TD>Email</TD>
</TR>
<xsl:for-each select="PEOPLE/PERSON">
<TR>
<TD><xsl:value-of select="NAME"/></TD>
<TD><xsl:value-of select="ADDRESS"/></TD>
<TD><xsl:value-of select="TEL"/></TD>
<TD><xsl:value-of select="FAX"/></TD>
<TD><xsl:value-of select="EMAIL"/></TD>
</TR>
</xsl:for-each>
</TABLE></BODY></HTML>
</xsl:template>
</xsl:stylesheet>
 XPath in XSLT
eXtensible Stylesheet Language Transformation ...transform an XML file into an HTML file or another text-based format...
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<xsl:stylesheet xmlns:xsl="http://www.w3.org/TR/WD-xsl">
<xsl:template match="/">
<HTML>
<BODY>
<TABLE BORDER="2">
<TR>
<TD>Name</TD>
<TD>Address</TD>
Xpath Expression
<TD>Tel</TD>
<TD>Fax</TD>
<TD>Email</TD>
</TR>
<xsl:for-each select="PEOPLE/PERSON[NAME='Tracey Wilson']">
<TR>
<TD><xsl:value-of select="NAME"/></TD>
<TD><xsl:value-of select="ADDRESS"/></TD>
<TD><xsl:value-of select="TEL"/></TD>
<TD><xsl:value-of select="FAX"/></TD>
<TD><xsl:value-of select="EMAIL"/></TD>
</TR>
</xsl:for-each>
</TABLE></BODY></HTML>
</xsl:template>
</xsl:stylesheet>
 XPath in XSLT
eXtensible Stylesheet Language Transformation ...transform an XML file into an HTML file or another text-based format...
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<xsl:stylesheet xmlns:xsl="http://www.w3.org/TR/WD-xsl">
<xsl:template match="/">
<HTML>
<BODY>
<TABLE BORDER="2">
<TR>
<TD>Name</TD>
Xpath Expression
<TD>Address</TD>
<TD>Tel</TD>
<TD>Fax</TD>
<TD>Email</TD>
</TR>
<xsl:for-each select="PEOPLE/PERSON[3]">
<TR>
<TD><xsl:value-of select="NAME"/></TD>
<TD><xsl:value-of select="ADDRESS"/></TD>
<TD><xsl:value-of select="TEL"/></TD>
<TD><xsl:value-of select="FAX"/></TD>
<TD><xsl:value-of select="EMAIL"/></TD>
</TR>
</xsl:for-each>
</TABLE></BODY></HTML>
</xsl:template>
</xsl:stylesheet>

4th person
 XPath in Java Applications
Where are the classes?

They come with Java 1.4 (aka: “rt.jar”)

Common import statements we will use:

import javax.xml.parsers.*;

import org.w3c.dom.*;

import org.apache.xpath.*;
 XPath in Java Applications
You first need an XML document
Convenience
public static Document getDoc(String file) { method
org.w3c.dom.Document doc = null;
System.out.println("Parsing XML file " + file);
try{
javax.xml.parsers.DocumentBuilderFactory docBuilderFactory =
javax.xml.parsers.DocumentBuilderFactory.newInstance();
javax.xml.parsers.DocumentBuilder docBuilder =
docBuilderFactory.newDocumentBuilder();
doc = docBuilder.parse(new File( file ));
doc.getDocumentElement().normalize();
return doc;
}catch (Exception e) {
System.out.println(e); e.printStackTrace();
return doc;
}
}
Note: the parse method's
alternative parms include :
InputSource,
InputStream, and
String uri
 XPath in Java Applications
<PRODUCTS>
<PRODUCT ACCOUNT="1111111" id="111">
<DESCRIPTION>Alexander Apples</DESCRIPTION>
<PREVIOUSCOUNTDATE>2003-12-31</PREVIOUSCOUNTDATE>
<PREVIOUSCOUNT>10</PREVIOUSCOUNT>
Excerpt from <THISCOUNT>7</THISCOUNT>
<SOLD>27</SOLD>
an XML file <ADDED>24</ADDED>
<UOM>BAG</UOM>
<COST>10.10</COST>
<RETAIL>15.12</RETAIL>
<PRODUCTLOCATION>Counter-C01R01</PRODUCTLOCATION>
<SERIALNUMBER></SERIALNUMBER>
<MODEL>Fruit</MODEL>
<EXPIRATIONDATE>2003-12-31</EXPIRATIONDATE>
</PRODUCT>
<PRODUCT ACCOUNT="222222" id="222">
<DESCRIPTION>Baldwin Apples</DESCRIPTION>
<PREVIOUSCOUNTDATE>2003-12-31</PREVIOUSCOUNTDATE>
<PREVIOUSCOUNT>20</PREVIOUSCOUNT>
<THISCOUNT>13</THISCOUNT>
<SOLD>37</SOLD>
<ADDED>12</ADDED>
<UOM>BAG</UOM>
<COST>10.10</COST>
<RETAIL>15.12</RETAIL>
<PRODUCTLOCATION>Counter-C01R01</PRODUCTLOCATION>
<SERIALNUMBER></SERIALNUMBER>
<MODEL>Fruit</MODEL>
<EXPIRATIONDATE>2003-12-31</EXPIRATIONDATE>
</PRODUCT>
...
</PRODUCTS>
 XPath in Java Applications
package com.MobileSales.test;

import java.io.*;
import org.w3c.dom.*;
import javax.xml.transform.*;
import org.apache.xpath.*;

public class XPathApp {

static String fileToParse = "./Data/Inventory_sample.xml";
public static void main(String[] args) {
String xPath = "/PRODUCTS/PRODUCT";
try{org.w3c.dom.Document doc=
com.MobileSales.Util.getDoc(new FileInputStream(fileToParse), fileToParse);

System.out.println("Show first DOM Node xpath:"+ xPath);

System.out.println(XPathAPI.eval(doc, xPath).toString());
}catch(TransformerException te){ System.out.println(te + "\n Tranformer error!");
}catch(FileNotFoundException fne){System.out.println(fne + "\n File not found!");}
}
}
===================================================================
Output
Parsing XML file ./Data/Inventory_sample.xml
Show first DOM Node xpath:/PRODUCTS/PRODUCT

Alexander Apples
2003-12-31
10
7
27
24
BAG
10.10
15.12
Counter-C01R01

Fruit
2003-12-31
 XPath in Java Applications
public static void main(String[] args) {
String xPath = "/PRODUCTS/PRODUCT";
try{
System.out.println("Parsing XML file "+ fileToParse);
Document doc=com.MobileSales.Util.getDoc(new FileInputStream(fileToParse), fileToParse);

org.w3c.dom.Node root = doc.getDocumentElement();

System.out.println("Root element is " + root.getNodeName());

}catch(FileNotFoundException fne){System.out.println(fne + "\n File not found!");}

}

===============================================================================
Output:

Parsing XML file ./Data/Inventory_sample.xml

Root element is PRODUCTS

Element org.w3c.dom.Document.getDocumentElement()

This is a convenience attribute that allows direct access to the

child node that is the root element of the document. For HTML
documents, this is the element with the tagName "HTML".
 XPath in Java Applications
public static void main(String[] args) {
String xPath = "/PRODUCTS/PRODUCT";
try{
System.out.println("Parsing XML file "+ fileToParse);
Document doc=
com.MobileSales.Util.getDoc(new FileInputStream(fileToParse), fileToParse);

javax.xml.transform.Transformer serializer
= TransformerFactory.newInstance().newTransformer();
serializer.setOutputProperty( OutputKeys.OMIT_XML_DECLARATION, "yes");
System.out.println("subtree "+ xPath);
org.w3c.dom.traversal.NodeIterator nl = XPathAPI.selectNodeIterator(doc, xPath);
Node n;
while ((n = nl.nextNode()) != null) {
serializer.transform(
new javax.xml.transform.dom.DOMSource(n),
new javax.xml.transform.stream.StreamResult(System.out));
}
}catch(FileNotFoundException fne){System.out.println(fne + "\n File not found!");
}catch(javax.xml.transform.TransformerException te){System.out.println(te);}
}
void javax.xml.transform.Transformer.transform(
Source xmlSource, Result outputTarget)
throws TransformerException NodeIterators are used to step through
a set of nodes in a NodeList,
Process the source tree to the output result. the document subtree governed
Parameters: by a particular Node,
xmlSource The input for the source tree.
outputTarget The output target.
the results of a query,
Throws: or any other set of nodes.
TransformerException If an unrecoverable error occurs
during the course of the transformation.
 XPath in Java Applications
Parsing XML file ./Data/Inventory_sample.xml

Show all sub-tree /PRODUCTS/PRODUCT

<PRODUCT ACCOUNT="1111111" id="111">

<DESCRIPTION>Alexander Apples</DESCRIPTION>
<PREVIOUSCOUNTDATE>2003-12-31</PREVIOUSCOUNTDATE>
<PREVIOUSCOUNT>10</PREVIOUSCOUNT>
<THISCOUNT>7</THISCOUNT>
<SOLD>27</SOLD>
<ADDED>24</ADDED>
The output: <UOM>BAG</UOM>
<COST>10.10</COST>
<RETAIL>15.12</RETAIL>
<PRODUCTLOCATION>Counter-C01R01</PRODUCTLOCATION>
<SERIALNUMBER/>
<MODEL>Fruit</MODEL>
<EXPIRATIONDATE>2003-12-31</EXPIRATIONDATE>
</PRODUCT><PRODUCT ACCOUNT="222222" id="222">
<DESCRIPTION>Baldwin Apples</DESCRIPTION>.....
 XPath in Java Applications
public static void main(String[] args) {
String xpath="/PRODUCTS/PRODUCT";

try{Document doc=
com.MobileSales.Util.getDoc(new FileInputStream(fileToParse), fileToParse);

NodeIterator ni = XPathAPI.selectNodeIterator(doc, xpath);

Node n;

while ((n = ni.nextNode()) != null) {

System.out.println("---------------------------------------" );
System.out.println("Entire node: "+n.toString() );
System.out.println("---------------------------------------" );
System.out.println("node name/value:"+n.getNodeName()+"/"
+XPathAPI.eval(n,"text()").str() );
System.out.println("node attributes:" +n.getAttributes() );
System.out.println("attributes length:" +n.getAttributes().getLength() );
System.out.println("atttribute 0 name/value: "
+n.getAttributes().item(0).getNodeName()
+"/"+n.getAttributes().item(0).getNodeValue() );
System.out.println( "Attribute `ACCOUNT`: "
+n.getAttributes().getNamedItem("ACCOUNT").getNodeValue() );
}

}catch(FileNotFoundException fne){System.out.println(fne + "\n File not found!");

}catch(javax.xml.transform.TransformerException te){System.out.println(te);}
}
 XPath in Java Applications
Output
...
---------------------------------------
n = XML node Entire node: <PRODUCT ACCOUNT="777771" id="254">
<DESCRIPTION>Apple Chips</DESCRIPTION>
<PREVIOUSCOUNTDATE>2003-12-31</PREVIOUSCOUNTDATE>
<PREVIOUSCOUNT>13</PREVIOUSCOUNT>
n.toString()
<THISCOUNT>37</THISCOUNT>
<SOLD>27</SOLD>
<ADDED>14</ADDED>
<UOM>BOX</UOM>
<COST>14.10</COST>
<RETAIL>15.12</RETAIL>
<PRODUCTLOCATION>Counter-C01R01</PRODUCTLOCATION>
<SERIALNUMBER />
n.getNodeName()+"/"+ <MODEL>Candy</MODEL>
<EXPIRATIONDATE>2003-12-31</EXPIRATIONDATE>
n.getNodeValue() </PRODUCT>
---------------------------------------
n.getAttributes() node name/value: PRODUCT/null
node attributes: ACCOUNT="777771" id="254"
n.getAttributes().getLength() attributes length: 2
atttribute 0 name/value: ACCOUNT/777771
n.getAttributes().item(0).getNodeName() +"/"+ Attribute `ACCOUNT`: 777771
n.getAttributes().item(0).getNodeValue()

n.getAttributes().getNamedItem("ACCOUNT")
.getNodeValue()
 XPath in Java Servlets
public class AllInventoryTable extends HttpServlet {
String sql, dbDriver, dbURL, db2eTable="INVENTORY",
XMLFile="Data/Inventory_sample.xml";

Connection con; Statement stmt; PrintWriter out;

org.w3c.dom.Node product, productDetail;
public void doGet(HttpServletRequest req, HttpServletResponse res)
throws javax.servlet.ServletException, java.io.IOException {
try{out=res.getWriter();
stmt=null; con=null;
con=Util.getLocalDataBaseConnection(out);
stmt = con.createStatement();

sql="DROP table " +db2eTable;

Util.logIt(sql, out);
try{Util.logIt("Result=" + stmt.executeUpdate(sql), out); }catch(Exception e){}
sql="CREATE table "+db2eTable +" ("+TableDefinitions.Inventory_FieldDefs+")";
Util.logIt(sql, out);
Util.logIt("rst=" +stmt.executeUpdate(sql), out);

// insert recs from inventory.xml

Util.logIt("insert recs from "+XMLFile, out);
Document doc =
Util.getDoc(getServletContext().getResourceAsStream(XMLFile), XMLFile);
NodeIterator products = XPathAPI.selectNodeIterator(doc, "/PRODUCTS/PRODUCT");
Util.logIt("looping thru xml");
while ((product = products.nextNode()) != null) {
sql="INSERT INTO "+db2eTable+" ("+TableDefinitions.Inventory_Fields+" ) VALUES("

Populate
+" '"+ product.getAttributes().getNamedItem("ACCOUNT").getNodeValue() +"'"
+" , CURRENT DATE "
+" , '"+ product.getAttributes().getNamedItem("id").getNodeValue() +"'"
+" , '"+ XPathAPI.eval(product,"DESCRIPTION") +"'"
database table +" , "+ XPathAPI.eval(product,"PREVIOUSCOUNT")
+" , "+ XPathAPI.eval(product,"THISCOUNT")
+" , "+ XPathAPI.eval(product,"SOLD")

by looping +" , "+ XPathAPI.eval(product,"ADDED")

+" , '"+ XPathAPI.eval(product,"SERIALNUMBER") +"'"
+" , '"+ XPathAPI.eval(product,"PRODUCTLOCATION") +"'"

through +" , '"+ XPathAPI.eval(product,"UOM") +"'"

+" , "+ XPathAPI.eval(product,"COST")
+" , "+ XPathAPI.eval(product,"RETAIL")

XML +" , CURRENT DATE "

+" ) ";
Util.logIt(sql, out);
Util.logIt("sql result: "+stmt.executeUpdate(sql), out);
}
Util.logIt("Finished loading " +db2eTable, out);
Util.logIt("Closing DB Connection", out);
stmt.close(); con.close();
}catch(FileNotFoundException fnf){ Util.logIt( "Can't find "+XMLFile+"--" +fnf.getMessage(),out);
}catch(IOException ioe){ Util.logIt( "io error -->"+ioe.getMessage(), out);
}catch(NoClassDefFoundError cnfe){ Util.logIt( "DB driver not found! "+cnfe,out);
}catch(SQLException se){ Util.HandleSQLError(se,out);
}catch(UnsatisfiedLinkError ule){ Util.logIt( "UnsatisfiedLinkError-->" +ule.getMessage(), out );
}catch(Exception e){ Util.logIt(e.getMessage(),out); e.printStackTrace();
}finally{
try{Util.logIt("closing DB",out); con.close(); stmt.close(); }catch(Exception e){}
try{out.close();}catch(Exception e){}
}
}
}
 XPath in Java Servlet
XPath
NodeIterator products = XPathAPI.selectNodeIterator(doc, "/PRODUCTS/PRODUCT");

while ((product = products.nextNode()) != null) {

sql="INSERT INTO "+db2eTable+" ("+TableDefinitions.Inventory_Fields+" ) VALUES("
+" '"+ product.getAttributes().getNamedItem("ACCOUNT").getNodeValue() +"'"
+" , CURRENT DATE "
+" , '"+ product.getAttributes().getNamedItem("id").getNodeValue() +"'"
+" , '"+ XPathAPI.eval(product,"DESCRIPTION") +"'"
+" , "+ XPathAPI.eval(product,"PREVIOUSCOUNT")
+" , "+ XPathAPI.eval(product,"THISCOUNT")
+" , "+ XPathAPI.eval(product,"SOLD")
+" , "+ XPathAPI.eval(product,"ADDED")
+" , '"+ XPathAPI.eval(product,"SERIALNUMBER") +"'"
+" , '"+ XPathAPI.eval(product,"PRODUCTLOCATION") +"'"
+" , '"+ XPathAPI.eval(product,"UOM") +"'"
+" , "+ XPathAPI.eval(product,"COST")
+" , "+ XPathAPI.eval(product,"RETAIL")
+" , CURRENT DATE "
+" ) ";
stmt.executeUpdate(sql);
}
Exploded view
from last slide
 Xpath in
Java Server Pages
using the
Java Standard Tag Library
 JSTL (Java Standard Tag Library)
...developed by the JSR-52 expert group under the
Java Community Process...

...The ultimate goal of JSTL is to

help simplify JavaServer™ Pages (JSP™) page authors’ lives...

JSTL version 1.1 works with JSP 2.0 and Servlet Spec 2.4
Use the Servlet 2.4 syntax in your web.xml (web-app deployment descriptor):
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="ISO-8859-1"?>
<web-app version="2.4"
xsi:schemaLocation="http://java.sun.com/xml/ns/j2ee web-app_2_4.xsd
xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance"
xmlns="http://java.sun.com/xml/ns/j2ee"> ...

USE JSP 2.0 taglib prefix syntax in your JSP's:

<%@ taglib uri="http://java.sun.com/jsp/jstl/xml" prefix="x" %>

============================================================================

Do NOT use the Servlet 2.3 (or prior) deployment descriptor syntax:
<!DOCTYPE web-app
PUBLIC "-//Sun Microsystems, Inc.//DTD Web Application 2.3//EN"
"http://java.sun.com/dtd/web-app_2_3.dtd">
<web-app>...

Do NOT JSP 1.2 (or prior) taglib prefix syntax:

<%@ taglib prefix="c" uri="http://java.sun.com/jstl/core" %>
 JSTL (Java Standard Tag Library)
JSTL allows you to use EL (Expression Language)

The EL operators

Arithmetic
+, -, *, / (or div), % (or mod)
Relational
== (or eq), != (or ne), &lt; (or lt), > (or gt), &lt;= (or le), >= (or ge)
Logical
&amp;&amp; (or and), || (or or), ! (or not)
Validation
empty
 JSTL (Java Standard Tag Library)
XML Tag Library
<x:out select=”XPathExpression” [escapeXml=”{true|false}”]/>

<x:parse xml=”XMLDocument” {var=”var” [scope={page|request|session|application}]

|varDom=”var” [scopeDom=”scope”]}
[systemId=”systemId”] [filter=”filter”]/>

<x:set select=”XPathExpression” var=”varName”

[scope=”{page|request|session|application}”]/>

<x:if select=”XPathExpression”
[var=”varName”] [scope=”{page|request|session|application}”]> body content </x:if>

<x:choose>
<x:when select=”XPathExpr”> body content </x:when>
<x:otherwise>conditional block</x:otherwise>
</x:choose>

<x:forEach [var=”varName”] select=”XPathExpression”> body content </x:forEach>

<x:transform xml=”XMLDocument” xslt=”XSLTStylesheet”

[xmlSystemId=”XMLSystemId”]
[xsltSystemId=”XSLTSystemId”]
[{var=”varName”
[scope=”{page|request|session|application}”]|result=”resultObject”}]/>

<x:param name=”name” value=”value”/>

 XPath in JSP (“Java Server Page”)
Here is a simple excerpt from a JSP (using jstl):

<x:forEach var="STOP" select="$route/STOP">

<TR id='<x:out select="$route/@ID"/>'>
<TD> <x:out select="$STOP/NAME"/> </TD>
<TD> <x:out select="$STOP/ADDRESS"/> </TD>
<TD> <x:out select="$STOP/CITY"/> </TD>
</TR>
</x:forEach>
<ROUTES>
<ROUTE ID="Monday">
<TEXT>Monday</TEXT>
<STOP ID="101" ACCOUNT="777777">
<NAME>Shell</NAME>
<ADDRESS>1221 38th Street</ADDRESS>
<ADDRESS2></ADDRESS2>
<CITY>Indianapolis</CITY>
<STATE>IN</STATE>
<ZIP>46222</ZIP>
<CONTACT>Mike Cornwell</CONTACT>
<PHONE>(317) 272-3854</PHONE>
<TYPE>Gas Station</TYPE>

XML </STOP>
<TAXID>325478521</TAXID>
<MINORITY>35%</MINORITY>

file <STOP ID="102" ACCOUNT="777771">

<NAME>Marathon</NAME>
<ADDRESS>745 Jackson St</ADDRESS>
<ADDRESS2></ADDRESS2>
<CITY>Indianapolis</CITY>
<STATE>IN</STATE>
<ZIP>46745</ZIP>
<CONTACT>Mike Cornwell</CONTACT>
<PHONE>(317) 272-3854</PHONE>
<TYPE>Gas Station</TYPE>
The
Output
<TAXID>325478521</TAXID>
<MINORITY>35%</MINORITY>
</STOP>
<STOP ID="103" ACCOUNT="777772">...
 XPath in JSP (complete example)
<html><head> <title> List Routes </title>
<%@ taglib uri="http://java.sun.com/jsp/jstl/core" prefix="c" %> Lets us use
<%@ taglib uri="http://java.sun.com/jsp/jstl/functions" prefix="fn" %>
<%@ taglib uri="http://java.sun.com/jsp/jstl/xml" prefix="x" %> the JSTL
<link href="../Styles/Global.css" type="text/css" rel="stylesheet" />
<SCRIPT src ="../Scripts/ExpandCollapse.js" type="text/javascript"></SCRIPT> XML tags
</head>

<body onLoad="collapseAll()"> <center>

<B>Routes</B><BR>
<c:if test="${applicationScope.routesXML==null}">
<c:import url="../Data/Routes.xml" var="xml"/> Load the XML file
<x:parse xml="${xml}" var="routesXML" scope="application"/>
</c:if> into variable “routesXML”
<c:if test="${applicationScope.routesXML == null}">
<BR> Could not find or parse the Routes.xml file <br>
<BR> Please contact the technical support staff. <BR>
</c:if>
<c:if test="${applicationScope.routesXML != null}">
<TABLE width="100%">
<x:forEach var="route" select="$routesXML/ROUTES/ROUTE">
<TR class="COLLAPSIBLE_MENU" id='<x:out select="$route/@ID" />' onclick="toggle(this.id);">
<Th><a class="COLLAPSIBLE_MENU" href='Route.jsp?ROUTE=<x:out select="$route/TEXT"/>' target="Page">
Open Route</a> </Th>
<Th>View</Th>
<Th><x:out select="$route/TEXT" /></Th> </TR>
<x:forEach var="STOP" select="$route/STOP"> Nested loop
<TR id='<x:out select="$route/@ID"/>'>
<TD> <x:out select="$STOP/NAME"/> </TD> through Loop
<TD> <x:out select="$STOP/ADDRESS"/>
<TD> <x:out select="$STOP/CITY"/>
</TD>
</TD> STOP's through
</TR>
</x:forEach> ROUTE's
</x:forEach>
</TABLE>
</c:if>
</center></body></html>
 XPath in JSP
...

<x:forEach var="STOP" select="$routesXML/ROUTES/ROUTE[@ID=$ROUTE_SELECTED]/STOP">

<TR><x:set var="custNum" select="$STOP/@ACCOUNT"/>
<TD> <a
href='../VisitOpener?STOP_PARM=<x:out select="$STOP/NAME"/>&CUST_PARM=<x:out select="$STOP/@ACCOUNT"/>' >

<x:choose>

<x:when
select="$activityLogXML/LOG[WHERE=$custNum and contains(WHAT,'CLOS') and substring(WHEN,1,10)=$today]">
Edit/Re-open </x:when>

<x:when
select="$activityLogXML/LOG[WHERE=$custNum and substring(WHEN,1,10)=$today]">
Continue/Close </x:when>
XPath
<x:otherwise>
Start </x:otherwise>

</x:choose>

</a> </TD>
<TD> <x:out select="$STOP/@ACCOUNT"/> </TD>
<TD> <x:out select="$STOP/NAME"/> </TD>
<TD> <x:out select="$STOP/ADDRESS"/> </TD>
<TD> <x:out
</TR>
select="$STOP/CITY"/> </TD>
Choose/When
</x:forEach>
statement
...
<html><head> <title> Route Processing </title>

XPath in JSP (Comlete Example)

<%@ taglib uri="http://java.sun.com/jsp/jstl/core" prefix="c" %>
<%@ taglib uri="http://java.sun.com/jsp/jstl/functions" prefix="fn" %>
<%@ taglib uri="http://java.sun.com/jsp/jstl/xml" prefix="x" %>
<%@ taglib uri="http://java.sun.com/jsp/jstl/fmt" prefix="fmt" %>
<link href="../Styles/Global.css" type="text/css" rel="stylesheet" />
</head><body> <center>
<c:set var="ACTION_PAGE" value="Route.jsp" scope="session" />
<!-- <BR> sessionScope.ACTION_PAGE="${sessionScope.ACTION_PAGE}" -->
<!-- If no route selected, then list routes (List_Routes.jsp) -->
<c:if test="${param.ROUTE==null && sessionScope.ROUTE_SELECTED==null}">
<c:redirect url="List_Routes.jsp" />
</c:if>
<c:if test="${param.ROUTE!=null}">
<c:set var="ROUTE_SELECTED" value="${param.ROUTE}" scope="session" />
</c:if>
<B> ${sessionScope.ROUTE_SELECTED} Route</B><BR>
Load Routes.XML
<!-- Load routes.xml file -->
<c:if test="${applicationScope.routesXML==null}">
<c:import url="../Data/Routes.xml" var="xml"/>
<x:parse xml="${xml}" var="routesXML" scope="application"/>
</c:if>
<c:if test="${applicationScope.routesXML == null}">
<BR> Could not find or parse the Routes.xml file <br>
<BR> Please contact the technical support staff. <BR>
</c:if>
<!-- Load ActivityLog.xml file -->
<c:import url="../Data/ActivityLog.xml" var="xml"/>
<x:parse xml="${xml}" var="activityLogXML" scope="request"/>
Load ActivityLog.XML
<c:if test="${activityLogXML == null}">
<BR> Could not find or parse the ActivityLog.xml file <br>
<BR> Please contact the technical support staff. <BR>
</c:if>
<!-- assign var "today" for comparisons/searching through the activitiy log (see below on this page) -->

<jsp:useBean id="now" class="java.util.Date" />

<fmt:formatDate var="today" pattern="yyyy-MM-dd" value="${now}" />
<c:if test="${applicationScope.routesXML != null}">
<TABLE width=100%>

XPath
<TR>
<TH> Action </TH>
<TH> Account# </TH>
<TH> Name </TH>
<TH> Address </TH>
<TH> City </TH>
</TR>
<x:forEach var="STOP" select="$routesXML/ROUTES/ROUTE[@ID=$ROUTE_SELECTED]/STOP">
<TR><x:set var="custNum" select="$STOP/@ACCOUNT"/>
<TD> <a href='../VisitOpener?STOP_PARM=<x:out select="$STOP/NAME"/>&CUST_PARM=<x:out select="$STOP/@ACCOUNT"/>' >
<!-- when=<x:out select="$activityLogXML/LOG[substring(WHEN,1,8)]" /> -->
<x:choose>
<x:when select="$activityLogXML/LOG[WHERE=$custNum and contains(WHAT,'CLOS') and substring(WHEN,1,10)=$today]">
Edit/Re-open </x:when>
<x:when select="$activityLogXML/LOG[WHERE=$custNum and substring(WHEN,1,10)=$today]">
Continue/Close </x:when>
<x:otherwise>

Route
Start </x:otherwise>
</x:choose>
</a> </TD>
<TD> <x:out select="$STOP/@ACCOUNT"/> </TD>
<TD> <x:out select="$STOP/NAME"/>
<TD> <x:out select="$STOP/ADDRESS"/>
<TD> <x:out select="$STOP/CITY"/>
</TD>
</TD>
</TD>
“STOP”
</TR>
</x:forEach>
</TABLE>
Loop
</c:if>
</center></body></html>
 XPath Links

www.w3.org/TR/xpath

www.w3schools.com/xpath/default.asp

javaalmanac.com/egs/org.w3c.dom/pkg.html

xml.apache.org/xalan-j/apidocs/org/apache/xpath/package-summary.html

java.sun.com/j2se/1.5.0/docs/api/javax/xml/xpath/package-summary.html