XPath - Path Examples
The basic XPath syntax is similar to filesystem addressing. If the path starts with the slash /, then it represents an absolute path to the required element
1. /Data
Select the root element Data
Result:
<Data>
<PrimaryDocument SCIObjectID="serverName:6546ef:f8ca28794b:-3ae6"/>
<username>Joe</username>
<instanceData>
<user_info>
<username>Joe</username>
<UserService>
.............
2. /Data/username
Select element username that is a child of element Data
Result:
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<Data>
<PrimaryDocument SCIObjectID="serverName:6546ef:f8ca28794b:-3ae6"/>
<username>Joe</username>
<instanceData>
<user_info>
<username>Joe</username>
<UserService>
<getUserToken>
<usertoken>
<username>admin</username>
..........
3. /Data/instanceData/user_info/username
Select element username which is child of the user_info element, which is child of the instanceData element, which is child of the root element Data
Result:
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<Data>
<PrimaryDocument SCIObjectID="serverName:6546ef:f8ca28794b:-3ae6"/>
<username>Joe</username>
<instanceData>
<user_info>
<username>Joe</username>
<UserService>
<getUserToken>
<usertoken>
<username>admin</username>
..........
If the path starts with // then all elements in the document which fulfill following criteria are selected.
4. //username
Select all the elements username.
Result:
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<Data>
<PrimaryDocument SCIObjectID="serverName:6546ef:f8ca28794b:-3ae6"/>
<username>Joe</username>
<instanceData>
<user_info>
<username>Joe</username>
<UserService>
<getUserToken>
<usertoken>
<username>admin</username>
<firstname>Joe</firstname>
<lastname>User</lastname>
<fullname>Joe User</fullname>
<parentid>John</parentid>
<groups attName="test_value">groups_content
<group>tpadmin</group>
<group>operator</group>
</groups>
..........
The star * selects all elements located by preceeding path
5. /Data/instanceData/user_info/UserService/getUserToken/usertoken/*
Select all elements enclosed by elements /Data/instanceData/user_info/UserService/getUserToken/usertoken
Result:
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<Data>
<PrimaryDocument SCIObjectID="serverName:6546ef:f8ca28794b:-3ae6"/>
<username>Joe</username>
<instanceData>
<user_info>
<username>Joe</username>
<UserService>
<getUserToken>
<usertoken>
<username>admin</username>
<firstname>Joe</firstname>
<lastname>User</lastname>
<fullname>Joe User</fullname>
<parentid>John</parentid>
<groups attName="test_value">groups_content
<group>tpadmin</group>
<group>operator</group>
</groups>
<permissions>
<perm type="admin" id="1">POReqSend</perm>
<perm type="cert" id="cert_1">CA_CERTS</perm>
<perm type="cert" id="cert_2">SYSTEM_CERTS</perm>
<perm type="template">POConfirmSend.xfm</perm>
<perm type="admin" id="2">POQueryApprover</perm>
<perm type="businessprocess">PO.bp</perm>
<perm>permission_1</perm>
<perm>permission_2</perm>
</permissions>
</usertoken>
</getUserToken>
</UserService>
</user_info>
..........
6. /*/*/*/username
Select all elements username which have 3 ancestors
Result:
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<Data>
<PrimaryDocument SCIObjectID="serverName:6546ef:f8ca28794b:-3ae6"/>
<username>Joe</username>
<instanceData>
<user_info>
<username>Joe</username>
<UserService>
<getUserToken>
<usertoken>
<username>admin</username>
<firstname>Joe</firstname>
..........
7. //*
Select all elements
Result:
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<Data>
<PrimaryDocument SCIObjectID="serverName:6546ef:f8ca28794b:-3ae6"/>
<username>Joe</username>
<instanceData>
<user_info>
<username>Joe</username>
<UserService>
<getUserToken>
<usertoken>
<username>admin</username>
<firstname>Joe</firstname>
<lastname>User</lastname>
<fullname>Joe User</fullname>
<parentid>John</parentid>
<groupsattName="test_value">groups_content
<group>tpadmin</group>
<group>operator</group>
</groups>
<permissions>
<perm type="admin" id="1">POReqSend</perm>
<perm type="cert" id="cert_1">CA_CERTS</perm>
<perm type="cert" id="cert_1">SYSTEM_CERTS</perm>
<perm type="template">POConfirmSend.xfm</perm>
<perm type="admin" id="2">POQueryApprover</perm>
<perm type="businessprocess">PO.bp</perm>
<perm>permission_1</perm>
<perm>permission_2</perm>
</permissions>
</usertoken>
</getUserToken>
</UserService>
</user_info>
<POdocument>
<info>
<POnum>RET8999</POnum>
<POdate>2003:11:12</POdate>
</info>
<shipTo>
<name>Internet Retailer Inc.</name>
<street>123 Via Way</street>
<city>Milwaukee</city>
<state>WI</state>
<zip>53202</zip>
</shipTo>
<billTo>
<name>Company name</name>
<street>47 Eden Street</street>
<city>Denver</city>
<state>CO</state>
<zip>80219</zip>
</billTo>
<items>
<item>
<productIDdescription="Product_1">CO11</productID>
<quantity>5</quantity>
<price>1.23</price>
<currency>USD</currency>
</item>
<item>
<productIDdescription="Product_2">CO12</productID>
<quantity>7</quantity>
<price>2.34</price>
<currency>USD</currency>
</item>
<item>
<productIDdescription="Product_3">CO13</productID>
<quantity>9</quantity>
<price>3.45</price>
<currency>USD</currency>
</item>
</items>
<total>53.58</total>
</POdocument>
</instanceData>
</Data>
