Dynamic XML with flex - actionscript-3

Question

I'm trying to build a type of query GUI, which returns queries from a php script in xml format via an httpservice.
Each query returns different results
eg.
rep with most and leat quotes
store with highest $ value
I'm really stuck on how to display the queries and access the node names and values.
Here's an example of an xml:
<node>
<action>query</action>
<quotes name="Most Quotes">
<first>John</first>
<last>Smith</last>
<quote_num>71</quote_num>
</quotes>
<quotes name="Least Quotes">
<first>Dave</first>
<last>Cook</last>
<quote_num>6</quote_num>
</quotes>
</node>
Id like to present the data in a readable way.
Thanks

Answer 1

Here the example code for read your XML (it works perfectly):
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<mx:Application xmlns:mx="http://www.adobe.com/2006/mxml" layout="vertical" creationComplete="init()" horizontalAlign="center">
<mx:Script>
<![CDATA[
import mx.collections.XMLListCollection;
import mx.utils.ObjectUtil;
private var tempXML:XML;
public function init():void{
tempXML = myXML;
txtA.text = myXML.toString();
readXml();
}
public function readXml():void{
var str:String = "";
var myXML:XMLList = new XMLList(myXML);
for each(var node:XML in myXML){
str = str + "action:" + node["action"] + "\n";
for each(var obj2:XML in node.quotes){
str = str + " name:" + obj2.attributes().toXMLString() + "\n";
str = str + " first:" + obj2["first"] + "\n";
str = str + " first:" + obj2["last"] + "\n";
str = str + " quote_num:" + obj2["quote_num"] + "\n";
}
txtB.text = str;
}
}
]]>
</mx:Script>
<mx:XML id="myXML">
<node>
<action>query</action>
<quotes name="Most Quotes">
<first>John</first>
<last>Smith</last>
<quote_num>71</quote_num>
</quotes>
<quotes name="Least Quotes">
<first>Dave</first>
<last>Cook</last>
<quote_num>6</quote_num>
</quotes>
</node>
</mx:XML>
<mx:HBox width="100%">
<mx:TextArea id="txtA" width="400" height="400" />
<mx:TextArea id="txtB" width="400" height="400" />
</mx:HBox>
Note: This code was created in actionscript 3, but should also work in your version. Please try it and tell me if will be useful, otherwise I'll have to post a code for your version. Remember that there are many ways to do this, i posted this way because maybe is more simple.
You can try this HERE.
Please visit this link for more explanation Working with XML
Second Version
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<mx:Application xmlns:mx="http://www.adobe.com/2006/mxml" layout="vertical" creationComplete="init()" horizontalAlign="center">
<mx:Script>
<![CDATA[
import mx.collections.XMLListCollection;
import mx.utils.ObjectUtil;
private var tempXML:XML;
public function init():void{
tempXML = myXML;
txtA.text = myXML.toString();
readXml();
}
public function readXml():void{
var str:String = "";
var quotes:XMLList = myXML.quotes;
str = str + "action:" + myXML["action"] + "\n";
for (var i:int = 0; i < quotes.length(); i++){
str = str + "----quote name:" + XMLList(quotes[i]).attributes().toXMLString() + "\n";
var quotes_child:XMLList = quotes[i].children();
for (var j:int = 0; j < quotes_child.length(); j++){
str = str + "--------" + XML(quotes_child[j]).name() + ":" + quotes_child[j] + "\n";
}
}
txtB.text = str;
}
]]>
</mx:Script>
<mx:XML id="myXML">
<node>
<action>query</action>
<quotes name="Most Quotes">
<first>John</first>
<last>Smith</last>
<quote_num>71</quote_num>
</quotes>
<quotes name="Least Quotes">
<first>Dave</first>
<last>Cook</last>
<quote_num>6</quote_num>
</quotes>
<quotes name="other">
<first>other_first</first>
<last>other_last</last>
<quote_num>other_num</quote_num>
<other_property>other_prop</other_property>
</quotes>
</node>
</mx:XML>
<mx:HBox width="100%">
<mx:TextArea id="txtA" width="400" height="400" />
<mx:TextArea id="txtB" width="400" height="400" />
</mx:HBox>
You can try this HERE.
Check that in this new version, I iterate over each child using a "for" statement with increment variable.

Answer 2

Here's a way to do it without knowing what the node names or attribute names will be
for each(var item : XML in yourXML.children()) {
trace(item.name());//this will get the name of the node
for each(var attribute : XML in item.attributes()) {
trace(attribute.name() + " = " + attribute.toXMLString()); // prints out the attribute names and values
}
}