simple XML question for perl - how to retrieve specific elements
- by Jeff
I'm trying to figure out how to loop through XML but I've read a lot and I'm still getting stuck. Here's the info:
I'm using the wordnik api to retrieve XML with XML::Simple:
$content = get($url);
$r = $xml->XMLin("$content");
The actual XML looks like this:
<definitions>
-
<definition sequence="0" id="0">
-
<text>
To withdraw one's support or help from, especially in spite of duty, allegiance, or responsibility; desert: abandon a friend in trouble.
</text>
<headword>abandon</headword>
<partOfSpeech>verb-transitive</partOfSpeech>
</definition>
-
<definition sequence="1" id="0">
-
<text>
To give up by leaving or ceasing to operate or inhabit, especially as a result of danger or other impending threat: abandoned the ship.
</text>
<headword>abandon</headword>
<partOfSpeech>verb-transitive</partOfSpeech>
</definition>
-
<definition sequence="2" id="0">
-
<text>
To surrender one's claim to, right to, or interest in; give up entirely. See Synonyms at relinquish.
</text>
<headword>abandon</headword>
<partOfSpeech>verb-transitive</partOfSpeech>
</definition>
-
<definition sequence="3" id="0">
...
What I want is simply the FIRST definition's part of speech. I'm using this code but it's getting the LAST definition's POS:
if($r->{definition}->{0}->{partOfSpeech}) {
$pos = $r->{definition}->{0}->{partOfSpeech};
}
else { $pos = $r->{definition}->{partOfSpeech}; }
I am pretty embarrassed by this since I know there's an obviously better way to do it. I would love to get something as simple as this working so I could more generally loop through the elements. BUt it just isn't working for me (no idea what to reference). I've tried many variations of the following - this is just my last attempt:
while (my ($k, $v) = each %{$r->{definitions}->{definition}[0]->{sequence}->{partOfSpeech}}) {
$v =~ s/'/'"'"'/g;
$v = "'$v'";
print "export $k=$v\n";
}
Lastly, when I do "print Dumper($r)" it gives me this:
$VAR1 = {
'definition' => {
'0' => {
'partOfSpeech' => 'noun',
'sequence' => '6',
'text' => 'A complete surrender of inhibitions.',
'headword' => 'abandon'
}
}
};
(And that "noun" you see is the last (6th) definition/partofspeech element).
