Check if XML element exists

[johnfl68]

Hello:

I thought I had this figured out once before, but now it's not coming to me (or at least not quit right). I always seem to have troubles with the whole hash/array thing as my brain always seems to interpret it differently than it is.

I have a XML file, some of the data entries have 'codeshares' elements, and some do not. Some have only 1 and others may have 2 or 3.

I am using XML::Simple because is works for 98% of what I need.

I have tried using the following in hopes to get a number response back based on the number of codeshares entries:

  my $codeshares = scalar @{$database->{'flightStatuses'}->{'flightStatus'}->[$loop]->{'codeshares'}->{'codeshare'}};

And a XML Sample:

        <flightStatuses>
            <flightStatus>
                <flightId>292085149</flightId>
                <carrierFsCode>MQ</carrierFsCode>
                <flightNumber>4070</flightNumber>
                <codeshares>
                    <codeshare>
                        <fsCode>AA</fsCode>
                        <flightNumber>4070</flightNumber>
                        <relationship>X</relationship>
                    </codeshare>
                    <codeshare>
                        <fsCode>BA</fsCode>
                        <flightNumber>4841</flightNumber>
                        <relationship>Z</relationship>
                    </codeshare>
                </codeshares>
            </flightStatus>
        </flightStatuses>

But if it is less than 2 codeshares, I get "Not an ARRAY reference at..." back. If I have 2 or more codeshares it seems to work fine.

Anyone know what I might possibly be missing, or is there another way to find out (in this case) how may codeshares there are, so I can read them? Everything else I have so far works fine.

Thanks as always!

John

[choroba]

If you want an array always, use the ForceArray option.

[johnfl68]

Thanks:

I added:

ForceArray => ['codeshare']

to the XMLin, and that seems to take care of things.

Thanks again!

John