Serialize XML from a dynamic array

The XMLList and XMLName attributes can be used to serialize dynamic arrays to XML and vice versa.

The XMLList and XMLName attributes attributes have distinct uses depending on the output you want:

Tip:

The variables with attributes you use to output to XML, may also be used to load an XML document into DYNAMIC ARRAY.

Example 1: Array of the same elements with XMLList

This example shows how an array defined with XMLList outputs a list of the same elements. Typically, this array is defined inside another variable (see Example 3: Array of the same elements with XMLList inside a record), because the resulting XML document is not valid otherwise. The XMLName attribute is set to name the elements within the array. 
DEFINE a RECORD
    list DYNAMIC ARRAY ATTRIBUTES(XMLList) OF STRING ATTRIBUTE(XMLName="MyElt")
END RECORD
This would produce an XML output like this, which is not a valid XML document because there is no parent node:
<MyElt>One</MyElt><MyElt>Two</MyElt>
When viewed in an XML viewer, it would display as shown. 
<MyElt>One</MyElt>
<MyElt>Two</MyElt>

Example 2: Array of the same elements with XMLName but without XMLList

In this example an array of the same elements is defined without XMLList. This produces output that is a valid XML document because the XMLName attribute is set to tag the array with a surrounding tag, and to tag the elements within the array.

If you do not use the XMLName attribute, the tags used in the XML output are the names of the Genero BDL variables. Or if there are no variables, they are named "<element>". 

DEFINE arr DYNAMIC ARRAY ATTRIBUTE(XMLName="SurroundingTag") OF STRING ATTRIBUTE(XMLName="MyElt")
The XML output may look like this, which is a valid XML document because there is a parent node:
<SurroundingTag><MyElt>One</MyElt><MyElt>Two</MyElt></SurroundingTag>
When viewed in an XML viewer, it would display as shown. 
<SurroundingTag>
   <MyElt>One</MyElt>
   <MyElt>Two</MyElt>
</SurroundingTag>

Example 3: Array of the same elements with XMLList inside a record

In this example an array of the same elements is defined with XMLList inside a record, in order to produce output that is a valid XML document. Several lists may be included in the record.

DEFINE myVar1 RECORD ATTRIBUTES(XMLName="Root")
   val1  INTEGER ATTRIBUTES(XMLName="Val1"),
   list  DYNAMIC ARRAY ATTRIBUTES(XMLList) OF STRING ATTRIBUTES(XMLName="MyElt"),
   val2  FLOAT   ATTRIBUTES(XMLName="Val2")
END RECORD
This would produce XML output like this, which is a valid XML document because there is a parent node:
<Root><Val1>148</Val1><MyElt>hello</MyElt><MyElt>there</MyElt><Val2>0.58</Val2></Root>
When viewed in an XML viewer, it would display as shown. 
<Root>
  <Val1>148</Val1>
  <MyElt>hello</MyElt>
  <MyElt>there</MyElt>
  <Val2>0.58</Val2>
</Root>

Example 4: Array of the same elements with XMLName inside a record

In this example an array of the same elements is defined without XMLList inside a record. The XMLName attribute is set to tag the array with a surrounding tag, and to tag the elements within the array.

If you do not use the XMLName attribute, the tags used in the XML output are the names of the Genero BDL variables. Or if there are no variables, they are named "<element>". 

DEFINE myVar2 RECORD ATTRIBUTES(XMLName="Root")
   val1  INTEGER ATTRIBUTES(XMLName="Val1"),
   arr  DYNAMIC ARRAY ATTRIBUTES(XMLName="Sample") OF STRING ATTRIBUTES(XMLName="MyElt"),
   val2  FLOAT   ATTRIBUTES(XMLName="Val2")
END RECORD
This would produce XML output like this, which is a valid XML document because there is a parent node:
<Root><Val1>148</Val1><Sample><MyElt>hello</MyElt><MyElt>there</MyElt></Sample><Val2>0.58</Val2></Root>
When viewed in an XML viewer, it would display as shown. 
<Root>
   <Val1>148</Val1>
   <Sample>
	<MyElt>hello</MyElt>
	<MyElt>there</MyElt>
   </Sample>
   <Val2>0.58</Val2>
</Root>