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In Navision there are 2 ways to handle XMLs. In all versions it is possible to use the automation Microsoft XML and from Navision 4 it is possible to use XML ports.

XML ports are thought not my preferred object, because they are limited. They work in the same way as a dataport. Therefore in the following we will concentrate us on the use of the automation Microsoft XML.

Before we are able to load/read an XML document, we must define a variable, which will provide us with a container for the document.

Define the variable XMLDom as Microsoft XML – DomDocument

Because we are using automations, we have to create the instant at first:

CREATE(XMLDom);

Now we are ready to load a XML document into the container. There are 2 ways:

1. Loading from a text variable

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XMLText := '<"1.0" encoding="ISO-8859-1"?>';
XMLText += 'SystemStatus';
XMLDom.loadXML(XMLText);

2. Loading from a file

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XMLFile := 'c:\text.xml';
XMLDom.load(XMLFile);

By the way, the XML file could also be at text stream.

As soon the XML Document has been loaded, we are ready to add tags and read tags.

There are 2 ways to read XMLs. You can parse the XML Document as Nodes or as Elements. Nodes are though often Elements with sub elements. Elements do not contain sub elements.

Tags a common referee to Nodes and Elements

1. Reading as Nodes:

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XMLNodeList := XMLDoc.getElementsByTagName(Tag);
Node := XMLNodeList.item(0);
IF NOT ISCLEAR(Node) THEN
    ReturnValue := Node.text;

Where XMLNodeList is Microsoft XML IXMLDOMNodeList and Node is Microsoft XML IXMLDOMNode

2. Reading as Elements:

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Element := XMLDoc.selectSingleNode(TagName);
IF NOT ISCLEAR(Element) THEN BEGIN
    ReturnValue := Element.text;

Where Element is Microsoft XML IXMLDOMElement

If you instead of reading wants to build a XML Document you can also do this in 2 ways.

1. Create a XML from a text variable:

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Building the XML
    XMLText := '<"1.0" encoding="ISO-8859-1"?>';
    XMLText += 'SystemStatus';
    XMLDom.loadXML(XMLText);
Saving the XML:
    XMLDom.save(xmlfile);
XML:
    <"1.0" encoding="ISO-8859-1"?>
    
        SystemStatus
    

2. Creating an Init XML and then adding elements /nodes:

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Build initial XML:
    InitXML := '<"1.0" encoding="ISO-8859-1"?>'+
               '';
    XMLDom.load(InitXML);
Add Element:
    Root := XMLdoc.documentElement;
    NewTag := XMLDom.createElement('Type');
    NewTag.text := 'SystemStatus';
    Root.appendChild(NewTag);
XML:
    <"1.0" encoding="ISO-8859-1"?>
    
          SystemStatus