Question

I have this

$xml = new SimpleXMLElement($output);
$names = $xml->param->value->array->data;

Here is the output

SimpleXMLElement Object
(
[value] => Array
    (
        [0] => SimpleXMLElement Object
            (
                [struct] => SimpleXMLElement Object
                    (
                        [member] => SimpleXMLElement Object
                            (
                                [name] => school
                                [value] => SimpleXMLElement Object
                                    (
                                        [struct] => SimpleXMLElement Object
                                            (
                                                [member] => Array
                                                    (
                                                        [0] => SimpleXMLElement Object
                                                            (
                                                                [name] => schoolid
                                                                [value] => SimpleXMLElement Object
                                                                    (
                                                                        [string] => 49961
                                                                    )

                                                            )

                                                        [1] => SimpleXMLElement Object
                                                            (
                                                                [name] => schoolname
                                                                [value] => SimpleXMLElement Object
                                                                    (
                                                                        [string] => Millersville Elementary School
                                                                    )

                                                            )

I am trying to get to the “schoolname” value

using

for($i=0;$i<count($names);$i++) {
    echo $names[0][$i]->struct->member->value->struct->member[0]->value.'<br>';
}

I’ve also tried as string($names[0]etc.) with no success. I think I am messing up the order in the beginning with $names[0][$i]??

Any help is much appreciated!

Answer 1

Consider learning XPath if you feel lazy. It’s the easy way to address your issue if you don’t want to loose it with a never ending streak of ->’s 🙂

Learning XPath is also an investment. When you deal with XML you need to know it. It’s the SQL of XML or DOM (see DOMXPath).

I know this is not really an answer but spending some time and what I pointed out here is worth it and will also solve you problem.