Write XML doc from HTTP.POST

[grover970]

I need to create a script that will write an XML document from a HTTP.POST.
Ive read a number of threads learning how to write the XML file. I'm just not sure how I would parse the POST and then to write the file on the server.

Any help is much appreciated.

The typical POST will look like this:
01Array (
02 [variables] => Array (
03 [response_id] => 123456
04 [survey_id] => 100001
05 [survey_title] => Cool survey with all question types
06 [total_responses] => 23
07 [start_date] => 2010-02-15 16:27:00
08 [end_date] => 2010-02-15 17:33:17
09 [ip_address] => 98.16.84.122
10 [country] => Ireland
11 [custom_tags] => Array (
12 [0] => Array (
13 [name] => customer_reference
14 [value] => RT123456
15 ) )
16 [answers_xml] =>
17 <answers>
18 <question number="1">
19 <title>Text Single question type</title>
20 <answer>Some test single text</answer>
21 </question>
22 <question number="2">
23 <title>Text Paragraph question type</title>
24 <answer>Some test paragraph text</answer>
25 </question>
26 <question number="3">
27 <title>Email question type</title>
28 <answer>no-reply@gmail.com</answer>
29 </question>
30</answers>
31 ) )

[grover970]

So after setting up a cross domain policy I am able to capture the http.post from polldaddy's website. I've directed it to this PHP script:

<?php
$postdata = file_get_contents("php://input");
$fp=fopen("tester.xml","w+");
fwrite($fp,$postdata."\t");
?>

Can someone send me a good tutorial on how I can parse this string to create a well formed XML record?

tester.xml file:

variables%5Bresponse_id%5D=14064546&variables%5Bsurvey_id%5D=1766765&variables%5Bsurvey_title%5D=Test+Survey+-+HTTP.POST&variables%5Btotal_responses%5D=6&variables%5Bstart_date%5D=Today%2C+9%3A24PM&variables%5Bend_date%5D=Today%2C+9%3A24PM&variables%5Bip_address%5D=207. 229.137.238&variables%5Bcountry%5D=United+States&variables%5Banswers_xml%5D=%3Canswers%3E%3Cquestion+number%3D%221%22%3E%3Ctitle%3EWhich+of+these+colors+do+you+ like+the+most%3F%3C%2Ftitle%3E%3Canswer%3EOrange%3C%2Fanswer%3E%3C%2Fquestion%3E%3Cquestion+number%3D%222%22%3E%3Ctitle%3EWhich+of+these+sports+do+enjoy+watchin g+on+TV+the+most%3F%3C%2Ftitle%3E%3Canswer%3EBasketball%3C%2Fanswer%3E%3C%2Fquestion%3E%3Cquestion+number%3D%223%22%3E%3Ctitle%3EWhat+is+your+age+range%3C%2Ftit le%3E%3Canswer%3E30-39%3C%2Fanswer%3E%3C%2Fquestion%3E%3C%2Fanswers%3E&variables%5Burl%5D=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nealdesign.net%2FwriteTest.php

[JShor]

I've always wanted some application for array_walk_recursive. Cool beans. Array_walk_recursive() will start at the parent node and work its way through the generations of nodes. For each node it walks through, it adds the required children. $post_array is the POSTed array that you're using.

Use SimpleXML to start an XML element and continue adding children, then write it into tester.xml.

<?php

$xml = new SimpleXMLElement('<root/>');

array_walk_recursive($post_array, array ($xml, 'addChild'));

// Then just write it to your XML sheet.
$postdata = file_get_contents("php://input");

// Append your XML data to the sheet.
$postdata .= $xml->asXML();

$fp=fopen("tester.xml","w+");
fwrite($fp,$postdata."\t");

?>

[grover970]

Thanks for the help.

Is this supported by PHP Version 4.4.9?
It doesn't seem to be creating the tester.xml file.

[JShor]

Post your complete code.

[grover970]

My apologies. I thought the code you added in the previous post was complete.

Disclaimer: I have zero experience in PHP and am hacking this together.

[JShor]

I'm not sure how else to help you then since I don't know how your POST data is being sent to the script that is executing. $post_array is supposed to contain the array that is to be converted into XML.

At the top of the script, you need to define $post_array with the value of the POSTed data.

Example:

<?php

$post_array = $_POST['**post name here**'];