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Because XML feeds are so unique I recommend writing your own parser using PHP or Perl. There are basically two ways you can do this:
1) using a tree based parser like MiniXML, this examines the whole xml document and gives you access to it in tree format. This can use up a lot of resources if it is a large feed. But its fine for small feeds, so check out MiniXML on Google.
2) using Expat, this is an event based parser, this uses less resources for larger feeds. It comes built in for PHP, and you can download it for Perl. Look at CPAN for Perl, or PHP.net for PHP versions.
Once the xml is parsed you can do what you want with the data, in your case make it into banners. Are you planning to create images dynamically?
There are a number of ways i can think of doing this.
Both PHP and Perl offer interface to the Gd graphics library which will let you create images on the fly from your scripts.
Depending on your version of PHP it might already be installed, otherwise you will have to get it yourself, same goes for Perl. Check out CPAN for Gd, or PHP.net for details on how to use it. Ive never used it so i cant advise you on exactly how it works.
If you wanted to create animated banners im not sure if Gd will do it, it might. But you could use Ming which is available for PHP and Perl, that might give you more flexabilty for animated stuff as it lets you create flash objects.
I think you will find the XML bit easier. If you give me an example snippet from your XML feed i will see if i can make an example parser for you.
[edited by: Mike12345 at 2:14 pm (utc) on Nov. 16, 2006]
