Is it possible to create a hash dynamically?

Ruby
1

Hi,

I am trying to build a dynamic hash map

def extract(xml, path) require 'rexml/document' xml = xml.to_s.gsub("utf-16", "utf-8") doc = REXML::Document.new(xml) doc.root.each_element(path) do |element| element.each_element do |node| puts "name: #{node.name} text: #{node.text}" @xml_data = {node.name => node.text} end end return @xml_data end

However, the @xml_data is always returning 1 element

Thanks

Aidy

2

On Monday 30 June 2008, aidy wrote:

      element.each_element do |node|

Thanks

Aidy

The problem is in the line

@xml_data = {node.name => node.text}

At each iteration, you discard the old content of the variable and
replace it
with a new hash. This way, at the end of the cycle, the @xml_data will
be a
hash containing only the text of the last node.

To do what you want, you should set @xml_data to an empty hash outside
the
outer each, then store the new node in the hash at each iteration:

def extract(xml, path)
require ‘rexml/document’
xml = xml.to_s.gsub(“utf-16”, “utf-8”)
doc = REXML::Document.new(xml)
@xml_data = {}
doc.root.each_element(path) do |element|
element.each_element do |node|
puts “name: #{node.name} text: #{node.text}”
@xml_data[node.name] => node.text}
end
end
return @xml_data
end

By the way, are you sure @xml_data needs to be an instance variable?
From the
way you use it in the piece of code you posted, it seems it should be a
local
variable.

I hope this helps

Stefano

3

On Mon, Jun 30, 2008 at 12:32 PM, aidy [email protected]
wrote:

     element.each_element do |node|
     puts "name: #{node.name} text: #{node.text}"
     @xml_data = {node.name => node.text}
   end
 end
 return @xml_data

end

However, the @xml_data is always returning 1 element

def extract(xml, path)
require ‘rexml/document’
xml = xml.to_s.gsub(“utf-16”, “utf-8”)
doc = REXML::Document.new(xml)
xml_data = {}
doc.root.each_element(path) do |element|
element.each_element do |node|
puts “name: #{node.name} text: #{node.text}”
xml_data[node.name] = http://node.name/node.text
end
end
return xml_data
end

–
Rick DeNatale

My blog on Ruby
http://talklikeaduck.denhaven2.com/

4

Hi stefano,

On 30 Jun, 17:46, Stefano C. [email protected] wrote:

To do what you want, you should set @xml_data to an empty hash outside the
@xml_data[node.name] => node.text}

Stefano- Hide quoted text -

  • Show quoted text -

Thanks for the help.

After the syntax change, all elements are found.

Not so sure why my IDE did not pick them all up, the first time I ran
the change!

Aidy

5

On 30 Jun, 17:46, Stefano C. [email protected] wrote:

  puts "name: #{node.name} text: #{node.text}"

I hope this helps

Stefano-

Hi Stefano,

Thanks for getting back, but there seems to be a syntax error here:

@xml_data[node.name] => node.text}

I have tried this,

 def extract(xml, path)
  require 'rexml/document'
  xml = xml.to_s.gsub("utf-16", "utf-8")
  doc = REXML::Document.new(xml)
  @xml_data = {}
  doc.root.each_element(path) do |element|
      element.each_element do |node|
      puts "name: #{node.name} text: #{node.text}"
      @xml_data[node.name] = node.text
    end
  end
  return @xml_data
end

but still get one element in @xml_data

Regards

Aidy