Method:Classic General Q&A

Re: Can I parse XML directly within Method (without using the API to import)?

Method_Paul — Sat, 29 Sep 2012 13:08:42 GMT

FYI to those watching this thread.

The October 2012 version will have a "Get node value from XML", under the Character Function action, that will allow you an easy way to parse values from known XML nodes.

Paul

Re: Can I parse XML directly within Method (without using the API to import)?

Anonymous — Fri, 01 Jun 2012 14:14:55 GMT

smohyee:
Is Method perchance clever enough to interpret the entire list of records, and map it to a Method table of my choosing?

Not at this time - there are no Actions to process XML and trying to use the character function to do this would be difficult. Your solution should be a web service before Method to process/parse the XML.

Can I parse XML directly within Method (without using the API to import)?

smohyee — Wed, 30 May 2012 17:59:49 GMT

Being a newb I would appreciate any corrections if I'm fundamentally misunderstanding concepts here

I'm using a web service call to my online shopping cart to return a list of records in XML format. Using the Method Web Service action, I can store that mass of XML text as an Action Result... but then what? Is there a way to translate that XML data into records for my Method tables using Method actions?

I imagine the alternative would be to modify my service call to return one record at a time, or even one field at a time, and use character functions to remove the XML code around the data before sticking them into tables. I also imagine that being a very painful and unpragmatic solution.

Is Method perchance clever enough to interpret the entire list of records, and map it to a Method table of my choosing?

PS: what I'm really hoping is that there is a solution that doesn't involve creating a third party app that would make the web service call, then use the Method API to insert the data into Method.