Find replace Element using Python

Question

I'm trying to search a tag and replace an element in some XML code. Here is my attempt:

from xml.dom import minidom

dom = minidom.parse('../../../lib/config/folder/config.xml')

for tag_type in dom.getElementsByTagName('tag_type'):
    tag_type.childNodes = [dom.createTextNode("Replacement Word")]

print tag_type

I'm running Python 2.4 so Element tree is not an option. Currently, I'm getting a response of:

<DOM Element: tag_type at 0x1c28a0e0>

Not sure why it isn't printing and not replacing.

ElementTree can be downloaded for Python 2.4. Grab your copy here, Python 1.5.2 (!) and newer are supported. — Martijn Pieters
– Martijn Pieters, Commented Aug 12, 2013 at 14:44
I can't download it. I'm stuck with what I got unfortunately. Thanks. — AwayFromMyDesk
– AwayFromMyDesk, Commented Aug 12, 2013 at 14:45
You cannot just assign to childNodes. You must use the DOM methods to manipulate the tree. — Martijn Pieters
– Martijn Pieters, Commented Aug 12, 2013 at 14:46
That's exactly what print tag_type would print. What did you expect? — Tomalak
– Tomalak, Commented Aug 12, 2013 at 14:46
It helps us greatly if you post what the input and desired output looks like. — Hai Vu
– Hai Vu, Commented Aug 12, 2013 at 14:48

Martijn Pieters · Accepted Answer · 2013-08-12 14:55:41Z

3

You'll have to use the Node API to remove and add nodes:

for tag_type in dom.getElementsByTagName('tag_type'):
    while tag_type.hasChildNodes():
        tag_type.removeChild(tag_type.firstChild)
    tag_type.appendChild(dom.createTextNode("Replacement Word"))

Demo:

>>> from xml.dom import minidom
>>> xml = '''\
... <root>
...    <tag_type>
...       Foo
...       Bar
...    </tag_type>
... </root>
... '''
>>> dom = minidom.parseString(xml)
>>> for tag_type in dom.getElementsByTagName('tag_type'):
...     while tag_type.hasChildNodes():
...         tag_type.removeChild(tag_type.firstChild)
...     tag_type.appendChild(dom.createTextNode("Replacement Word"))
... 
<DOM Text node "'Replacemen'...">
>>> print dom.toxml()
<?xml version="1.0" ?><root>
   <tag_type>Replacement Word</tag_type>
</root>

edited Aug 12, 2013 at 14:55

answered Aug 12, 2013 at 14:50

Martijn Pieters

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7 Comments

AwayFromMyDesk Over a year ago

How do I grab a file from another folder?

Martijn Pieters Over a year ago

I am not sure I follow you. Use a different filename when parsing the file?

AwayFromMyDesk Over a year ago

When I try this method I get a bunch of errors. I think it's because my xml file is not in the same active folder as I'm running the script from. Do I need to set a PATH to look in another folder for the xml file?

Martijn Pieters Over a year ago

@AwayFromMyDesk: What kind of errors are you getting? And how are you parsing the file? Note that I used parseString() in my sample code because I had the XML in a string value. Use .parse() if you have a filename instead.

AwayFromMyDesk Over a year ago

I was getting a bunch of errors internal to parseString() at lines 1925, 942, 223. Obviously not in my script. I put it back to just parse() now I'm just getting an error: NameError: name 'appendChild' is not defined

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