Default data import -

Default data import

Example with no empty elements
Example with empty elements

When there is no import template assigned to a DataWindow object with the UseTemplate property, PowerBuilder attempts to import the data using the default mechanism described in this section.

Elements that contain text

The text between the start and end tags for each element can be imported if the XML document data corresponds to the DataWindow column definition. For example, this is the case if the XML was exported from PowerBuilder using the default XML export template.

The text content of the XML elements must match the column order, column type, and validation requirements of the DataWindow columns. (The same restriction applies when you import data from a text file with the ImportFile method).

All element text contents are imported in order of occurrence. Any possible nesting is disregarded. The import process ignores tag names of the elements, attributes, and any other content of the XML document.

Empty elements

Empty elements (elements that have no content between the start and end tags) are imported as empty values into the DataWindow column. If the element text contains only white space, carriage returns, and new line or tab characters, the element is treated as an empty element.

Any attributes of empty elements are ignored.

Elements with non-text content

If the element has no text content, but does contain comments, processing instructions, or any other content, it is not regarded as an empty element and is skipped for import.

Example with no empty elements

The three XML documents that follow all show the same result when you select Rows>Import in the DataWindow painter of if ImportFile is called with or without default arguments for start and end column, start and end row, and DataWindow start column.

The DataWindow object has five columns: emp_id, emp_fname, emp_lname, phone, and birth_date.

Example 1

This example contains two rows, each with five elements that match the column order, type, and validation requirements for the DataWindow object.

<?xml version="1.0"?>
<d_emp_birth_listing>
   <d_emp_birth_row>
      <element_1>105</element_1>
      <element_2>Matthew</element_2>
      <element_3>Cobb</element_3>
      <element_4>6175553840</element_4>
      <element_5>04/12/1960</element_5>
   </d_emp_birth_row>
   <d_emp_birth_row>
      <element_1>148</element_1>
      <element_2>Julie</element_2>
      <element_3>Jordan</element_3>
      <element_4>6175557835</element_4>
      <element_5>11/12/1951</element_5>
   </d_emp_birth_row>
</d_emp_birth_listing>

Example 2

In this example, the elements are not contained in rows, but they still match the DataWindow object.

<?xml version="1.0"?>
<root_element>
   <element_1>105</element_1>
   <element_2>Matthew</element_2>
   <element_3>Cobb</element_3>
   <element_4>6175553840</element_4>
   <element_5>04/12/1960</element_5>
   <element_6>148</element_6>
   <element_7>Julie</element_7>
   <element_8>Jordan</element_8>
   <element_9>6175557835</element_9>
   <element_10>11/12/1951</element_10>
</root_element>

Example 3

The comments and processing instructions in this example are not imported. The nesting of the <first> and <last> elements within the <Name> element is ignored.

<?xml version="1.0"?>
<root_element>
<!-- some comment -->
<row_element><?process me="no"?>105<name Title="Mr">
<first>Matthew</first>
<last>Cobb</last>
</name>
<!-- another comment -->
<phone>6175553840</phone>
<birthdate>04/12/1960</birthdate>
</row_element>
<row_element>148<name Title="Ms">
<first>Julie</first>
<last>Jordan</last>
</name>
<phone>6175557835</phone>
<birthdate>11/12/1951</birthdate>
</row_element>
</root_element>

Result

All three XML documents produce this result:

emp_id	emp_fname	emp_lname	phone	birth_date
105	Matthew	Cobb	6175553840	04/12/1960
148	Julie	Jordan	6175557835	11/12/1951

Example with empty elements

Example 4

This example uses the same DataWindow object, but there are two empty elements in the XML document. The first has no content, and the second has an attribute but no content. Both are imported as empty elements.

<?xml version="1.0"?>
<root_element>
<!-- some comment -->
<row_element>
<?process me="no"?>105<name Title="Mr">
<first>Matthew</first>
<!-- another comment -->
<last>Cobb</last>
</name>
<empty></empty>
<birthdate>04/12/1960</birthdate>
</row_element>
<row_element>148<name Title="Ms">
<empty attribute1 = "blue"></empty>
<last>Jordan</last>
</name>
<phone>6175557835</phone>
<birthdate>11/12/1951</birthdate>
</row_element>
</root_element>

Result

The XML document produces this result:

emp_id	emp_fname	emp_lname	phone	birth_date
105	Matthew	Cobb		04/12/1960
148		Jordan	6175557835	11/12/1951

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Users GuideImporting XML

Default data import

Example with no empty elements

Example with empty elements

Users Guide
Importing XML