Need to parse python dictionaries into xml

[Stefan Behnel]

abhijeet thatte, 16.06.2010 20:41:
> On Wed, Jun 16, 2010 at 10:57 AM, Stefan Behnel wrote:
>> You should start by writing down the XML structure that you want to build
>> for the above dict. That will make it clear what needs to be done.
>
> /*****************************************************************************************/
>
>       I need an xml file structure as below:
>       <chipsim>
> <#>
>    <name>sh2a</name>
>    <size>32</size>
>    <bus_width>4</bus_width>
>   <#><PIF>
>    <name>PIF</name>
>    <offset>4</offset>
>    <name_of_peer_string>new_string</name_of_peer_string>
>   </PIF>
>   <#><interrupt_tree>
>    <name>Interrupt_tree</name>
>   <#><tree_level_0>
>    <name>MX</name>
>    <offset>32</offset>
>    <bit_position>1</bit_position>
>    <type>INTR</type>
>    <hi_mask_def>0000</hi_mask_def>
>    <lo_mask_def>0000</lo_mask_def>
>   <#><tree_level_1>
>    <name>RRPR</name>
>    <offset>928</offset>
>    <bit_position>0</bit_position>
>    <type>INTR</type>
>    <hi_mask_def>0000</hi_mask_def>
>    <lo_mask_def>0000</lo_mask_def>
> </tree_level_1>
> </tree_level_0>
> </interrupt_tree>
> </chipsim>
> //**************************************************************************************/
>
> This is a very small part of the actual output I need.
> Dicts which I am creating looks like =
> {'chipsim':{'name':sh2a,'size':32,'bus_width':'4','PIF':{'name':'PIF','offseet':'4','name_of_peer_string':'new_string'},'interrupt_tree':{'tree_level_0':{'tree_level_1':{.....}}}}}

Now, that really makes it clear what you want. You can try this:

     import xml.etree.ElementTree as ET

     def to_xml_elements(d):
         elements = []
         # run through all items in the dict
         for name, value in d.items():
             element = ET.Element(name)
             if isinstance(value, dict):
                 # this is a sub-dict => inject its content recursively
                 element[:] = to_xml_elements(value)
             else:
                 # normal value => insert as string value
                 value_element = ET.Element(key)
                 value_element.text = str(value)
                 element.append(value_element)

         # return list of elements that were created from the dict
         return elements


> I guess ElementTree is the best way to go about it. But have not found a
> good reference on how to use it.

There's lots of info on the web. Start at the effbot site:

http://effbot.org/zone/element-index.htm

Stefan