Using an object to make a folder structure

Question

I have an object that contains data from an exported OLAT backup (OLAT is an e-learning tool written in Java).

Now I need to make another 'type' of backup file, namely a Moodle backup file so I can import it into Moodle itself (another e-learning tool written in PHP). So my plan is to create the folder structure needed for the Moodle backup and write the data to the corresponding .xmls and paths.

I know it sounds vague but my question is this: What would be the best course of action for creating these files? For example, I need to make an .xml with this structure:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<course id="8" contextid="78">
  <shortname>Test Course Short</shortname>
  <fullname>Test Course Long</fullname>
  <idnumber></idnumber>
  <summary></summary>
  <summaryformat>1</summaryformat>
  <format>topics</format>
  <showgrades>1</showgrades>
  <newsitems>5</newsitems>
  <startdate>1394668800</startdate>
  <marker>0</marker>
  <maxbytes>0</maxbytes>
  <legacyfiles>0</legacyfiles>
  <showreports>0</showreports>
  <visible>1</visible>
  <groupmode>0</groupmode>
  <groupmodeforce>0</groupmodeforce>
  <defaultgroupingid>0</defaultgroupingid>
  <lang></lang>
  <theme></theme>
  <timecreated>1394632991</timecreated>
  <timemodified>1394632991</timemodified>
  <requested>0</requested>
  <enablecompletion>0</enablecompletion>
  <completionnotify>0</completionnotify>
  <numsections>8</numsections>
  <hiddensections>0</hiddensections>
  <coursedisplay>0</coursedisplay>
  <category id="1">
    <name>Miscellaneous</name>
    <description>$@NULL@$</description>
  </category>
  <tags>
  </tags>
</course>

I know this sounds like basic PHP, but that's also pretty much what it is. How do I for example make this file with just PHP?

With simpleXML http://php.net/manual/en/book.simplexml.php . It's one of many php xml libraries — aleation, Mar 14 '14 at 08:50
a simple template engine (ie.e. twig) could be usefull as well. — Andresch Serj, Mar 14 '14 at 08:58

score 0 · Accepted Answer · edited May 23 '17 at 12:05

You could define the needed Moodle Files as PHP classes (with public attributes).

namespace Moodle\Models;
class Course {
  protected $id;
  protected $contextid;

  public $shortname;
  public $fullname;
  ...
}

to fill the Moodle Objects with the OLAT content you could write a little OLAT2Moodle Converter. The Converter would have several functions handling OLAT objects and creating Moodle Objects. You might want to use the factory design pattern for this.

In your factory methods you could use simple arrays to define source attributes for destination attributes and use a general method to fiull your object. Simple example.

function fillObject($sourceObject,$destinationObject,$conversationMap) {
  foreach (conversationMap as $destinationAttribute => $sourceAttribute) {
  {
    $destinationObject->$destinationAttribute = sourceObject->$sourceAttribute;
  }
}

$courseConversationMap = array(
  'id' => 'id',
  'title' => 'coursetitle',
  'desc' => 'description',
  'start' => 'startDate',
  ...
);

$OLAT_course_object = getOLAT_i_dont_know_how_you_do_that();
$moodleCourse = new Moodle\Course();

fillObject($OLAT_course_object ,$moodleCourse ,$courseConversationMap);

Now you just define the conversationMaps and put that logic in your factory methods. Then you just iterate over the given OLAT objects and call the factory create methods. Don't be scared - it is not Rocket Science nor Brain Surgery ;-)

Then use some PHP XML Library to convert said classes to XML and simply write the XML Objects to files.

Your Converter would be highly reuseable and you could easily write SomethingElse2Moodle Converters on it's Base.

I already have an object with all the OLAT data inside, will it be easy to just use the getters from the OLAT object and use them to make a new course by first writing them to a new Moodle object, and then use that object to make the folder structure? — Bert, Mar 14 '14 at 09:20
Check the factory design pattern. Basically you could use attribute maps. where you define the source attribute for the destination attribute. I will update my post accordingly. — Andresch Serj, Mar 14 '14 at 09:27
Thanks man, this helped me out a lot. I think this'll make it a lot easier and clearer for me. +1 (if I had enough rep) — Bert, Mar 14 '14 at 09:36
Good luck with your converter. And consider putting it online if you're done. The rep will flow! :D — Andresch Serj, Mar 14 '14 at 09:38

Using an object to make a folder structure

1 Answers1