Handling Attributes in xpath expressions in Sap Cloud Integration CPI

[mark_fryu]

hi,

I have to read an attribute of the xml as a property, the namespace is also present.

the xml is like this:

<ns0:test>

  <test2 ns1:testattribute="test">

  </test2>

</ns0:test>

How do I read the "testattribute" attribute with xpath?

I tried:

/test/test2/@testattribute

but looking in trace, the property is empty and does not contain the value:

Thank you

[mark_fryu]

Hi, the purpose is to take the value of the attribute. for example, in this case the attribute name is 'testattribute' and its value is 'test' (the value can change with each call). I need to valorise the value of the attribute in a property (so in this case 'test') because then I have to use the property in the flow

[Ryan-Crosby · Accepted solution]

I think you are looking for something like the following, otherwise you must qualify your namespaces in your XPath expression.

/*[local-name() = 'test']/test2/@*[local-name() = 'testattribute']

Regards,

Ryan Crosby 

[mark_fryu · Accepted solution]

hi,

thank you for the reply.

I don't know the value of the attribute, can I make it dynamic?

I find this: 

but since I don't know the value of the attribute, I don't know what to put in place of 'value'

https://www.simplilearn.com/tutorials/selenium-tutorial/xpath-in-selenium#:~:text=XPath%20Text()%20f....

[Ryan-Crosby · Accepted solution]

@mark_fryu what would be the purpose of trying to select an attribute if you don't know what the attribute represents or if one even exists and at what level?

[mark_fryu · Accepted solution]

hi, @Ryan-Crosby 

the purpose is to take the value of the attribute. for example, in this case the attribute name is 'testattribute' and its value is 'test' (the value can change with each call).

I need to valorise the value of the attribute in a property (so in this case 'test') because then I have to use the property in the flow.

the attribute level is just like the example below (and namespaces are also present):

<ns0:test>

<tes2 ns1:testattribute="test">

</tes2>

</ns0:test>

[Ryan-Crosby · Accepted solution]

@mark_fryu still don't know how you would make use of an unknown attribute in any flow.  If you don't know what you are looking for, then how would you know when you've found it?

[mark_fryu · Accepted solution]

hi @Ryan-Crosby 

the flow on integration suite receives a call via SOAP, the xml attribute can have different values.

For example, I can receive the following XML:

<ns0:test>

<tes2 ns1:testattribute="control">

</tes2>

</ns0:test>

Or I can receive the following XML:

<ns0:test>

<tes2 ns1:testattribute="invoice">

</tes2>

</ns0:test>

so I know the name of the attribute, but I don't know the value.

Let me know if I made myself understood
Thank you

[Ryan-Crosby · Accepted solution]

@mark_fryu if you know the name of the attribute but not the value, then the answer I already provided should be sufficient.

[mark_fryu · Accepted solution]

in the formula you indicated to me,

I see that you refer to 'test' which is the value of the attribute.

If I don't know the value of the attribute, what should I put?

This is your formula /*[local-name() = 'test']/test2/@*[local-name() = 'testattribute']

what do I put here instead of 'test'?

[Ryan-Crosby · Accepted solution]

@mark_fryu that value of 'test' is for the root node of the xml which is named 'test', not the value of the attribute in your example.

[mark_fryu · Accepted solution]

hi @Ryan-Crosby 

oh okay thanks, it worked!!

Can I ask you if you can tell me why we need to use the local-name() function?
Is there a site/blog where it explains the existence of all the functions that can be used?
A thousand thanks

[Ryan-Crosby · Accepted solution]

@mark_fryu the * is to denote any namespace, otherwise you have to give the exact reference - e.g. ns0:test. The other option is *:test which I tested to confirm it also works.  Personally I would opt for the use of local-name() because it looks cleaner to read vs. noticing the tiny asterisk character.

[mark_fryu]

hi, @Ryan-Crosby 

Hi, the purpose is to take the value of the attribute.
for example, in this case the attribute name is 'testattribute' and its value is 'test' (the value can change with each call).

I need to valorise the value of the attribute in a property (so in this case 'test') because then I have to use the property in the flow

the attribute level is just like the example below (and namespaces are also present):

<ns0:test>

<tes2 ns1:testattribute="test">

</tes2>

</ns0:test>