Easiest way to parse XML using pl/sql dom parser

Question

I have no idea how to explain but I will try my best. I am using Oracle Apex and have XML in my table called "CLOBTABLE" with datatype Clob. I have tried XMLTYPE as a datatype but its not accepting any data in apex, so i am using CLOB Currently as a data type. now i want to use data which is in xml form i.e.

<Row>
    <cellArray>
        <Cell>
            <columnId>1</columnId>
            <valueArray>
                <Value>
                    <value>IR000024575452</value>
                </Value>
            </valueArray>
        </Cell>
        <Cell>
            <columnId>5</columnId>
            <valueArray>
                <Value>
                    <value>AZ12579856-001</value>
                </Value>
            </valueArray>
        </Cell>
        <Cell>
            <columnId>2</columnId>
            <valueArray>
                <Value>
                    <value>IT06686</value>
                </Value>
            </valueArray>
        </Cell>
        <Cell>
            <columnId>9</columnId>
            <valueArray>
                <Value>
                    <value>Hu Mics Metab K</value>
                </Value>
            </valueArray>
        </Cell>
        <Cell>
            <columnId>8</columnId>
            <valueArray>
                <Value>
                    <value>2006-03-31</value>
                </Value>
            </valueArray>
        </Cell>
        <Cell>
            <columnId>7</columnId>
            <valueArray>
                <Value>
                    <value>2006-07-27</value>
                </Value>
            </valueArray>
        </Cell>
    </cellArray>
</Row>
<Row>
    <cellArray>
        <Cell>
            <columnId>1</columnId>
            <valueArray>
                <Value>
                    <value>IR000024575452</value>
                </Value>
            </valueArray>
        </Cell>
        <Cell>
            <columnId>5</columnId>
            <valueArray>
                <Value>
                    <value>AZ12579856-001</value>
                </Value>
            </valueArray>
        </Cell>
        <Cell>
            <columnId>2</columnId>
            <valueArray>
                <Value>
                    <value>IT06686</value>
                </Value>
            </valueArray>
        </Cell>
        <Cell>
            <columnId>9</columnId>
            <valueArray>
                <Value>
                    <value>Hu Mics Metab K</value>
                </Value>
            </valueArray>
        </Cell>
        <Cell>
            <columnId>8</columnId>
            <valueArray>
                <Value>
                    <value>2006-03-31</value>
                </Value>
            </valueArray>
        </Cell>
        <Cell>
            <columnId>7</columnId>
            <valueArray>
                <Value>
                    <value>2006-07-27</value>
                </Value>
            </valueArray>
        </Cell>
    </cellArray>
</Row>

and want to parse this data and insert it in another table called "Hyp". each data corresponds to the column id of the database table and rest are the column values. i have tried Oracle XMLTYPE parser which is

DECLARE
    indoc    VARCHAR2(2000);
    indomdoc DBMS_XMLDOM.DOMDocument;
    innode   DBMS_XMLDOM.DOMNode;
    myparser DBMS_XMLPARSER.parser;
    buf      VARCHAR2(2000);
BEGIN
    indoc := '<emp><name>De Selby</name></emp>';
    myParser := DBMS_XMLPARSER.newParser;
    DBMS_XMLPARSER.parseBuffer(myParser, indoc);
    indomdoc := DBMS_XMLPARSER.getDocument(myParser);
    innode := DBMS_XMLDOM.makeNode(indomdoc);
    DBMS_XMLDOM.writeToBuffer(innode, buf);
    DBMS_OUTPUT.put_line(buf);
    DBMS_XMLDOM.freeDocument(indomdoc);
    DBMS_XMLPARSER.freeParser(myParser);
END;

but now i want to instead of using static content i.e. De Selby give dynamic content i.e. from that "CLOBTABLE" xml is given, data is parsed and inserted into "Hyp" table. I don't know how to do it. Any help will be greatly appreciated.

That is your Apex version, i'd like to know the version of the DB (eg 10g, 11gR2,..) — Tom, Aug 02 '12 at 20:48
i am not sure about that. cause i am using online facility http://apex.oracle.com/pls/apex/f?p=4550:1:1431033493681501 — IConfused, Aug 02 '12 at 21:43

score 6 · Accepted Answer · answered Aug 03 '12 at 07:56

apex.oracle.com has the last apex version and db version (which is 11gR2 atm). This allows usage of xmltables.

Please note that i had to wrap the data in tags to have valid xml (otherwise it would take as the main element, doesn't parse)

DECLARE
l_xmlclob CLOB := 
'<data>
<Row>
  <cellArray>
    <Cell>
      <columnId>1</columnId>
      <valueArray>
        <Value>
          <value>IR000024575452</value>
        </Value>
      </valueArray>
    </Cell>
    <Cell>
      <columnId>5</columnId>
      <valueArray>
        <Value>
          <value>AZ12579856-001</value>
        </Value>
      </valueArray>
    </Cell>
  </cellArray>
</Row>
<Row>
  <cellArray>
    <Cell>
      <columnId>1</columnId>
      <valueArray>
        <Value>
          <value>IR000024575452</value>
        </Value>
      </valueArray>
    </Cell>
    <Cell>
      <columnId>5</columnId>
      <valueArray>
        <Value>
          <value>AZ12579856-001</value>
        </Value>
      </valueArray>
    </Cell>
  </cellArray>
</Row>
</data>';
BEGIN
   FOR r IN (  SELECT rownum rn, cells
               FROM xmltable('/data/Row' passing XMLTYPE(l_xmlclob)
                                         columns CELLS  XMLTYPE PATH './cellArray')
            )
   LOOP
      DBMS_OUTPUT.PUT_LINE('Row: '||r.rn);      

      FOR c IN ( SELECT colid, colval
                   FROM xmltable('/cellArray/Cell' passing r.cells
                                                   columns COLID NUMBER PATH './columnId',
                                                           COLVAL VARCHAR(20) PATH './valueArray/Value/value')
               )
      LOOP
         DBMS_OUTPUT.PUT_LINE('colid, col value: '||c.colid||', '||c.colval);
      END LOOP;
   END LOOP;
END;

Output:

Row: 1
colid, col value: 1, IR000024575452
colid, col value: 5, AZ12579856-001
Row: 2
colid, col value: 1, IR000024575452
colid, col value: 5, AZ12579856-001

Say that if you want actual columns, you could try this:

   FOR r IN (  SELECT rownum rn, cells
               FROM xmltable('/data/Row' passing XMLTYPE(l_xmlclob)
                                         columns CELLS  XMLTYPE PATH './cellArray')
            )
   LOOP
      DBMS_OUTPUT.PUT_LINE('Row: '||r.rn);

      FOR c IN ( SELECT col1, col2, col3, col4, col5, col6
                   FROM xmltable('/cellArray/Cell' passing r.cells
                                                   columns COL1 VARCHAR(20) PATH './valueArray/Value/value[//columnId[contains(text(), "1")]]',
                                                           COL2 VARCHAR(20) PATH './valueArray/Value/value[//columnId[contains(text(), "2")]]',
                                                           COL3 VARCHAR(20) PATH './valueArray/Value/value[//columnId[contains(text(), "3")]]',
                                                           COL4 VARCHAR(20) PATH './valueArray/Value/value[//columnId[contains(text(), "4")]]',
                                                           COL5 VARCHAR(20) PATH './valueArray/Value/value[//columnId[contains(text(), "5")]]',
                                                           COL6 VARCHAR(20) PATH './valueArray/Value/value[//columnId[contains(text(), "6")]]'
                                                   )
               )
      LOOP
         DBMS_OUTPUT.PUT_LINE('col values: col1: '||c.col1||', col2: '||c.col2||', col3: '||c.col3||', col4: '||c.col4||', col5: '||c.col5||', col6: '||c.col6);
      END LOOP;
   END LOOP;

Output:

Row: 1
col values: col1: IR000024575452, col2: , col3: , col4: , col5: , col6: 
col values: col1: , col2: , col3: , col4: , col5: AZ12579856-001, col6: 
Row: 2
col values: col1: IR000024575452, col2: , col3: , col4: , col5: , col6: 
col values: col1: , col2: , col3: , col4: , col5: AZ12579856-001, col6:

Just a note though: your values are a weird structure... valuearray>value>value? Value is wrapped in value, and why would a single cell have multiple values (array)? If this is the case, ever, in your xml, you'll need to adapt.

Once Again I need your help just a little bit please see my post on [this page](http://stackoverflow.com/questions/11995803/getting-first-occurred-value-from-the-xml-using-oracle-parser) — IConfused, Aug 16 '12 at 21:46
@Tom would you have a look at my [question](https://stackoverflow.com/questions/48085611/get-the-list-of-nodes-and-node-text-that-contains-specific-text-using-xpath) and provide your suggestion? — Sejal Parikh, Jan 04 '18 at 06:01

Easiest way to parse XML using pl/sql dom parser

1 Answers1