Using XML feeds

require introduction.

[mack]

I have recently been offered the chance to display another sites content. The content comes in the form af an XML feed. I have never used and have no knowledge of XML. Searching the web for information has not yealded the answers I was looking for.

I assume I need to install some form of script to translate the XML to HTML and present it within my pages. I think the tool would be an XML parser.

What else do I need to concider.

The content I will be importing is search results from a search engine.

[edited for typo]

[edited by: mack at 9:39 am (utc) on Oct. 20, 2002]

[Nick_W]

Hi Mack,

I'm no expert in this field but I know that if you run PHP you'll need the Sablotron XML parser to be built into it.

If you do have PHP do a site search on sitepoint.com for xslt xml etc. Kevin Yank wrote some pretty neat introductory articles there...

Nick

[mack]

Thanks im looking into that right now nick.

I recently used the Google web api's and they functioned ok, does this mean my server is capable of carring out the process of XML importing.

Sorry about the newbie style of this thread, XML is just something I have never run into before.

[Nick_W]

Not sure, check by running phpinfo() to see what modules are built into it...

Nick

[mack]

Im running a remote box at a host and dont have shell access :(

Although one of the scripts I have instaled has something called phpcomfig.

When I acces this it shows me the variables.

XML Support active
XML Namespace Support active
EXPAT Version 1.95.2

[Nick_W]

Right, not sure if Expat is up to the job, we need jatar_k or Andreas to get in on this ;)

But FYI you can run a page like this:

<?
phpinfo();
?>

to get the full details....

Nick

[lorax]

Hello mack,
While you may already know this there are a variety of technologies based on XML that allow the exchange of data (RDF/RSS, XML-RPC, SOAP, WDDX). XML is simply defines what is being sent. Here's a few resources to get you started.

Technical Info
RDF basics - http://www.w3.org/RDF/FAQ
RDF/RSS (newsfeeds) - http://groups.yahoo.com/group/rss-dev/files/specification.html
XML-RPC - http://www.xmlrpc.com/spec

Tutorials
Parsing XML - http://www.phpbuilder.com/columns/justin20000428.php3
http://www.wirelessdevnet.com/channels/wap/features/xmlcast_php.html
http://www.hotscripts.com/PHP/Tips_and_Tutorials/XML_and_PHP/

Using RDF/RSS - http://www.oreillynet.com/pub/a/network/2000/08/25/magazine/rss_tut.html
http://216.244.96.20/travis/rdf-rss-3orless.html

XML-RPC
http://www.zend.com/zend/tut/tut-xml-rpc-client.php

Variety
http://www.zend.com/codex.php?CID=15
http://www.zend.com/zend/tut/
http://www.w3schools.com/
http://www.xml.com/pub/rg/143

HTH
GB