Creating valid XML with xmlstarlet

Question

I want to use xmlstarlet to select some records of a gigantic .xml file. My problem is, that I need the output to be valid XML.

Minimal example:

using xmlstarlet sel -t -c "//record[@type='TypeA']" frage.xml

on a file frage.xml with this content:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<records>
    <record type="TypeA">uqw8hY7V</record>
    <record type="TypeB">bN4mT0zL</record>
    <record type="TypeA">K6p4gJv2</record>
    <record type="TypeB">z8wQ9xV1</record>
    <record type="TypeA">a3rL7kY9</record>
    <record type="TypeB">m1W2pX4e</record>
    <record type="TypeA">y8T6r5zQ</record>
    <record type="TypeB">k9pJ2wT3</record>
    <record type="TypeA">d7V1gL5b</record>
    <record type="TypeB">t4Y6n0pM</record>
</records>

outputs:

<record type="TypeA">uqw8hY7V</record><record type="TypeA">K6p4gJv2</record><record type="TypeA">a3rL7kY9</record><record type="TypeA">y8T6r5zQ</record><record type="TypeA">d7V1gL5b</record>

while I would appreciate some NL there, my problem is, that there is no root node, which makes it uncomfortable to work with the output, because the software I want to use requires valid XML.

Is there a way to make xmlstarlet putting a root node for the output?

Thor · Accepted Answer · 2024-08-06 15:01:32Z

2

Maybe you should be removing instead of selecting? e.g.:

xmlstarlet ed -d '//record[@type != "TypeA"]' frage.xml

Output:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<records>
  <record type="TypeA">uqw8hY7V</record>
  <record type="TypeA">K6p4gJv2</record>
  <record type="TypeA">a3rL7kY9</record>
  <record type="TypeA">y8T6r5zQ</record>
  <record type="TypeA">d7V1gL5b</record>
</records>

answered Aug 6, 2024 at 15:01

Thor

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4 Comments

Luuk Over a year ago

An alternative is: xmlstarlet sel -t -e records -c "//record[@type='TypeA']" frage.xml | xmlstarlet fo

Thor Over a year ago

@Luuk: nice. you should probably post that as an answer

Luuk Over a year ago

I have done that just now, but this is better (I think) 😉

DrSvanHay Over a year ago

I love both answers! But the delete solution is more resource efficient, so I upvoted both and accept this one

Luuk · Accepted Answer · 2024-08-06 15:22:02Z

2

An alternative is:

xmlstarlet sel -t -e records -c "//record[@type='TypeA']" frage.xml | xmlstarlet fo

The xmlstarlet fo is just needed for the, optional, formatting.

answered Aug 6, 2024 at 15:22

Luuk

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