XML Parser for C Usage

Figure 21-1 illustrates the XML Parser for C functionality as follows:

1. XMLinit() function initializes the parsing process.

2. The parsed item can be an XML document (file) or string buffer. If the input is an XML document or file, it is parsed using the xmlparser() function. If the input is a string buffer, it is parsed using the xmlparserbuf() function.

3. DOM or SAX API:

   DOM: If you are using the DOM interface, include the following steps:

   • The xmlparse() or xmlparseBuffer() function calls .getDocumentElement(). If no other DOM functions are being applied, you can invoke xmlterm().

   • This optionally calls other DOM functions if required. These are typically Node or print functions. It outputs the DOM document.

   • If complete, the process invokes xmlterm()

   • You can optionally first invoke xmlclean() to clean up any data structures created during the parse process. You would then call xmlterm()

   SAX: If you are using the SAX interface, include the following steps:

   • Process the results of the parser from xmlparse() or xmlparseBuf() using callback functions.

   • Register the callback functions.

4. Optionally, use xmlclean() to clean up the memory and structures used during a parse, and go to Step 5. or return to Step 2.

5. Terminate the parsing process with xmlterm()

Parser Calling Sequence

The sequence of calls to the parser can be any of the following:

• xmlinit() - xmlparse() or

  xmlparsebuf() - xmlterm()

• xmlinit() - xmlparse() or

  xmlparsebuf() - xmlclean() - xmlparse() or

  xmlparsebuf() - xmlclean() - ... - xmlterm()

• xmlinit() - xmlparse() or

  xmlparsebuf() - xmlparse() or

  xmlparsebuf() -... - xmlterm()

Figure 21-1 XML Parser for C Usage