Create List of Lists from XML tree

Scripting Forums AppleScript | Mac OS X
#1

Hi helpful Applescripters!

I’d appreciate your advice. How would be the best way to create a list of lists from an XML file

I started off with the following hard coded list representing the XML tree, but thought it would be better to try and re-create it from the actual supplied XML file.

set theList to {{"Parent_1", {"Child_1", "Child_2", "Child_3"}}, {"Parent_2", {"Child_1", "Child_2", "Child_3"}}, {"Parent_3", {{"Child_1", {"GrandChild_1", "GrandChild_2", "GrandChild_3"}}, {"Child_2", {"GrandChild_1", "GrandChild_2", "GrandChild_3"}}, {"Child_3", {{"GrandChild_1", {"Great_GrandChild_1"}}}}}}}

This kind of belongs in the Xcode forum as well, as what I am trying to do is create an outline view from the structure of an XML file.

on createStructureFromLists(theList, parentItem)
	repeat with a_subList in theList
		set Chld_data_item to make new data item at end of data items of parentItem
		if class of a_subList is text then
			set contents of data cell "Item" of Chld_data_item to a_subList
			set contents of data cell "Identity" of Chld_data_item to (contents of data cell "Identity" of parentItem) & "/" & a_subList
		else
			set contents of data cell "Item" of Chld_data_item to (item 1 of a_subList)
			set contents of data cell "Identity" of Chld_data_item to (contents of data cell "Identity" of parentItem) & "/" & (item 1 of a_subList)
			my createStructureFromLists((item 2 of a_subList), Chld_data_item)
		end if
	end repeat
end createStructureFromLists

I am getting really confused at the moment, as it seems I have to start from the inside of the structure and work outwards. Is there an easier way and have I approached this all wrong? As the above handler works to create the outline view, I thought it would be easier to re-create the list I used to create the outline view, but if it is easier, I could create the outline view as I am parsing the XML.

I would be grateful for any help

Cheers

Ian

#2

If you are using ASOC you might take a look at Using Tree Controllers With NSXML Objects

#3

Thanks for the reply,

I’m not using ASOC, but the link you posted is exactly what I need - it’s just implementing it that’s going to take some figuring!
Presumably, is this something that could be called from applescript with a call method…? or is it more involved than that?
I’d still be interested in any vanilla AS or CLI methods, if anyone has done something like this before

Ian

#4

I’m sorry, when I read Xcode and outline view I automatically assumed NSOutlineView.
How about the XML classes in System Events?

#5

FWIW, this is a recent thread about conversion between XML/plists and AppleScript data structures.

#6

Had a look through the ObjectiveC method linked to and I think it is a bit beyond me.

Also, if I allow the user to navigate the XML structure verbatim, there will be areas such as Name/Value pairs where it will not be obvious what to select, so I am going to have to go for more of a proprietary approach.

The application is for configuring xpath queries to get data out of a XML output from a database web service.
Thank you for taking the time to post suggestions

Ian