Programming Forums > Application Development > C++

Soulstorm · Feb 11th, 2008, 11:52 AM

I want to build a simple XML parser using C++. At first, I don't mind about DTD declarations or special features. I want to be able to load an XML string and then output the code in a simple tree holding strings (the values of the XML document)

But the problem is that although I know all about XML, I haven't got the slightest idea about how to make an XML parser (or any other parser of the same logic). I believe a recursive descent parser is sufficient.

Can anyone point me into the right direction? All I want is a general idea, like the way I will organize my classes, what STL classes would prove useful... A general documentation upon parsers would also be helpful (google should work, but I always find better answers in forums).

Game_Ender · Feb 11th, 2008, 4:59 PM

I would be a good book on parsing. One way to do that is to check out some good universities and see which book they use for their classes which cover the subject. (Sorry I don't know one of the top of my head)

Soulstorm · Feb 12th, 2008, 3:45 AM

I tried Xerces xml parser, but it has faults all over it. Namely, it includes files of the project using <this.h> and not "that.h". That was enough to give me hundreds of errors in XCode. And building it is next to impossible. Even the sample XCode project produces a framework which doesn't work, for this reason!

Maybe you know any ready cross-platform XML parser?

Game_Ender · Feb 15th, 2008, 9:41 AM

If that's all you wanted: TinyXML is your best bet for a quick solution. It is a DOM based parser, so it loads the entire file into memory upon parsing. The XML is basically turned into a tree which you can navigate. This means you really don't want to use if you have to process hundreds of megs of XML, but for many uses TinyXML is prefect.

EDIT: I am just a little floored, TinyXML is written by Lee Thomason, the "Programmer and technical lead for the Flash Player".

Feb 11th, 2008, 11:52 AM	#1
Soulstorm Hobbyist Programmer Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Menidi, Athens, Greece Posts: 243 Rep Power: 3	Building a simple XML Parser I want to build a simple XML parser using C++. At first, I don't mind about DTD declarations or special features. I want to be able to load an XML string and then output the code in a simple tree holding strings (the values of the XML document) But the problem is that although I know all about XML, I haven't got the slightest idea about how to make an XML parser (or any other parser of the same logic). I believe a recursive descent parser is sufficient. Can anyone point me into the right direction? All I want is a general idea, like the way I will organize my classes, what STL classes would prove useful... A general documentation upon parsers would also be helpful (google should work, but I always find better answers in forums). __________________ Project::Soulstorm (personal homepage)

Feb 11th, 2008, 4:59 PM	#2
Game_Ender Professional Programmer Join Date: May 2006 Location: Maryland, USA Posts: 306 Rep Power: 3	Re: Building a simple XML Parser I would be a good book on parsing. One way to do that is to check out some good universities and see which book they use for their classes which cover the subject. (Sorry I don't know one of the top of my head) __________________ Robotics @ Maryland AUV Team - Software Lead

Feb 12th, 2008, 3:45 AM	#3
Soulstorm Hobbyist Programmer Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Menidi, Athens, Greece Posts: 243 Rep Power: 3	Re: Building a simple XML Parser I tried Xerces xml parser, but it has faults all over it. Namely, it includes files of the project using <this.h> and not "that.h". That was enough to give me hundreds of errors in XCode. And building it is next to impossible. Even the sample XCode project produces a framework which doesn't work, for this reason! Maybe you know any ready cross-platform XML parser? __________________ Project::Soulstorm (personal homepage)

Feb 15th, 2008, 9:41 AM	#4
Game_Ender Professional Programmer Join Date: May 2006 Location: Maryland, USA Posts: 306 Rep Power: 3	Re: Building a simple XML Parser If that's all you wanted: TinyXML is your best bet for a quick solution. It is a DOM based parser, so it loads the entire file into memory upon parsing. The XML is basically turned into a tree which you can navigate. This means you really don't want to use if you have to process hundreds of megs of XML, but for many uses TinyXML is prefect. EDIT: I am just a little floored, TinyXML is written by Lee Thomason, the "Programmer and technical lead for the Flash Player". __________________ Robotics @ Maryland AUV Team - Software Lead

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
pyparsing - Python parser library	ptmcg	Show Off Your Open Source Projects	0	Feb 11th, 2008 9:50 AM
Help Parsing 1.2 Gig XML File	fahlyn	Java	9	Jan 17th, 2008 7:09 PM
writing a parser in c++	programmingnoob	C++	47	Jul 24th, 2006 4:28 AM
SGML parser	printf	PHP	1	Oct 17th, 2005 5:52 PM
Simple Function Questions	meverha1	C++	16	Sep 12th, 2005 2:25 AM

Programming Forums > Application Development > C++

Building a simple XML Parser