I am trying to determine the best way to parse the XML response I get from a webservice call into a Java object. Using JAXB seems to be the easiest way but every example I get for this requires that you have a template Java class which will be the Java type the XML is converted into. My xml is as below
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8" ?>
<entry_list version="1.0">
<entry id="main[1]"> <hw highlight="yes" hindex="1">main</hw> <sound><wav>main0001.wav</wav></sound> <pr>ˈmeɪn</pr> <fl>adjective</fl> <lb>always used before a noun</lb> <def><dt>:most important :<sx>chief</sx> <sx>principal</sx> <vi>the <it>main</it> idea/point</vi> <vi>the <it>main</it> goal/purpose</vi> <vi>Speed is the <it>main</it> advantage of this approach.</vi> <vi>The company's <it>main</it> office is located in New York.</vi> <vi>the novel's <it>main</it> character</vi> <vi>driving down the <it>main</it> road/highway</vi> <vi>the <it>main</it> gate/entrance</vi> <vi>This dish can be served as a <phrase>main course</phrase> or appetizer.</vi> <vi>And now for the <phrase>main event</phrase> of the evening!</vi></dt></def> <uro><ure>main*ly</ure> <fl>adverb</fl> <utxt><vi>The reviews have been <it>mainly</it> [=<it>mostly</it>] positive.</vi> <vi>a plant found <it>mainly</it> [=<it>chiefly</it>] in coastal regions</vi> <vi>I don't like the plan, <it>mainly</it> because I think it's too expensive.</vi> <vi>The problems have been <it>mainly</it> minor ones. [=most of the problems have been minor ones]</vi> <vi>They depend <it>mainly</it> on/upon fish for food.</vi></utxt></uro></entry>
<entry id="main[2]"> <hw hindex="2">main</hw> <altpr>ˈmeɪn</altpr> <fl>noun</fl> <in><il>plural</il> <if>mains</if></in> <def><sn>1</sn> <sgram>count</sgram> <dt>:the largest pipe in a system of connected pipes <vi>a gas <it>main</it></vi> <vi>a water <it>main</it></vi></dt> <sn>2</sn> <bnote>the mains</bnote> <ssl>Brit</ssl> <sn>a</sn> <dt>:the system of pipes or wires for electricity, gas, or water <vi>My radio runs either off batteries or off <it>the mains</it>.</vi> <un>often used as <it>mains</it> before another noun <vi>We haven't had any <it>mains</it> water/electricity since the storm.</vi></un></dt> <sn>b</sn> <dt>:the place where electricity, gas, or water enters a building or room <vi>Turn off the water at <it>the mains</it>.</vi></dt></def> <dro><dre>in the main</dre> <def><dt>:in general <un>used to say that a statement is true in most cases or at most times <vi>The workers are <it>in the main</it> very capable. [=most of the workers are very capable]</vi> <vi>The weather has <it>in the main</it> been quite good. [=has been quite good most of the time]</vi></un></dt></def></dro></entry>
<entry id="main clause"> <hw>main clause</hw> <fl>noun</fl> <in><il>plural</il> <if>⁓ clauses</if></in> <def><gram>count</gram> <sl>grammar</sl> <dt>:a clause that could be used by itself as a simple sentence but that is part of a larger sentence <ca>called also <cat>independent clause</cat></ca> <dx>compare <dxt>coordinate clause</dxt> <dxt>subordinate clause</dxt></dx></dt></def></entry>
<entry id="main drag"> <hw>main drag</hw> <fl>noun</fl> <in><il>plural</il> <if>⁓ drags</if></in> <def><gram>count</gram> <sl>US</sl> <sl>informal</sl> <dt>:the main street in a town or city <vi>A carload of teenagers were cruising down the <it>main drag</it>.</vi></dt></def></entry>
<entry id="main line"> <hw>main line</hw> <fl>noun</fl> <in><il>plural</il> <if>⁓ lines</if></in> <def><gram>count</gram> <dt>:an important highway or railroad line</dt></def></entry>
<entry id="main man"> <hw>main man</hw> <fl>noun</fl> <in><il>plural</il> <if>⁓ men</if></in> <def><gram>count</gram> <sl>US</sl> <sl>informal</sl> <sn>1</sn> <dt>:someone's best male friend <vi>He's still her <it>main man</it>.</vi></dt> <sn>2</sn> <dt>:the most important or admired man in a group <vi>The team has many good players, but he is clearly the <it>main man</it>.</vi></dt></def></entry>
<entry id="main squeeze"> <hw>main squeeze</hw> <fl>noun</fl> <in><il>plural</il> <if>⁓ squeezes</if></in> <def><gram>count</gram> <sl>chiefly US slang</sl> <dt>:someone's main girlfriend, boyfriend, or lover <vi>She's my <it>main squeeze</it>.</vi></dt></def></entry>
<entry id="main street"> <hw>main street</hw> <fl>noun</fl> <in><il>plural</il> <if>⁓ streets</if></in> <def><sn>1</sn> <sgram>count</sgram> <dt>:the most important street of a U.S. town where there are many stores, banks, etc. <un>often used as a name <vi>The restaurant is at 257 <it>Main Street</it>.</vi></un></dt> <sn>2</sn> <bnote>Main Street</bnote> <sgram>noncount</sgram> <ssl>US</ssl> <dt><un>used to refer to middle-class people in the U.S. who have traditional beliefs and values <vi>What does <it>Main Street</it> think of this policy?</vi></un></dt></def></entry>
<entry id="water main"> <hw>water main</hw> <fl>noun</fl> <in><il>plural</il> <if>⁓ mains</if></in> <def><gram>count</gram> <dt>:a large underground pipe that carries water <vi>The <it>water main</it> burst/broke and flooded the street.</vi></dt></def></entry>
</entry_list>
My question is , do I have to define the Java object that this will be converted into? What I am afraid of if this is the case is what happens if data is added or removed from the XML response as it exists at the moment.
I have also tried loading the XML into a DOM and walking thropugh it that way but againi I am wondered what will happen if an element is added or removed?
I only want certain child nodes if their parent node is a certain value so any pointers as to the easiest way to do it would be welcome.
The simplest way to work with XML is to serialize it to an object.
You can do it with JAXB, here is a tutorial: mykong
Just define how objects should look.
Here is an example:
@XmlRootElement(name = "entry_list")
public class EntryList {
@XmlElement(name = "entry")
private List<Entry> entities;
public List<Entry> getEntities() {
return entities;
}
public void setLastName(List<Entry> entities) {
this.entities = entities;
}
}
public class Entry {
@XmlAttribute
private String id;
@XmlElement
private Sound sound
etc
...
public String getId() {
return id;
}
public void setId(String id) {
this.id = id;
}
public Sound getSound() {
return sound;
}
public void setSound(Sound sound) {
this.sound = sound;
}
}
Every element with a child element has to be a class and if it repeats multiple times like entry or vi it should be a list.