XPATH method for retuning multiple dynamic results from a XML file using PHP [closed]

Answer 1

Here's a way to do it:
(1) get the filter values from the form and build a querystring for xpath:

$fields = array( // fieldname => value for "all"
    'photographer_id' => '',
    'photographer' => 'x',
    'image' => '0');

foreach ($fields as $fieldname => $fieldvalue)
    if (isset($_GET[$fieldname]) && trim($_GET[$fieldname]) != $fieldvalue)
    $query[] = "$fieldname = '$_GET[$fieldname]'";

if (isset($query)) 
    $query = "[" . implode(' or ', $query) . "]"; else $query = "";

(2) use xpath to filter XML and display selected nodes

$xml = simplexml_load_string($x); // assume XML in $x
$results = $xml->xpath("area$query");

foreach ($results as $result) 
    echo "image $result->image by $result->photographer ($result->photographer_id)
";

see it working: http://codepad.viper-7.com/ciboJg