How to parse an XML file in C, having a hard time with code example

Hi, first post here :) .

I'd like to parse an XML file in C. I have C/C++ experience, but have not done this for a while.

This is my code example:

Code:

---

#include <stdio.h>#include <libxml2/parser.h>
#include <libxml2/tree.h>


static const char * document = "<doc/>";


static void example3Func(const char * content, int length);


int main(int argc, char * argv[])
{
  LIBXML_TEST_VERSION


  // read our document (which is a dummy in this case).
  example3Func(document, 6);


  // cleanup function for the XML library.
  xmlCleanupParser();


  // this is to debug memory for regression tests.
  xmlMemoryDump();


  return 0;
}


static void example3Func(const char * content, int length)
{
  xmlDocPtr doc;


  doc = xmlReadMemory(content, length, "noname.xml", NULL, 0);


  if (NULL == doc)
  {
    fprintf(stderr, "ERROR: Failed to parse document!\n\n");


    return;
  }
  else
  {
    printf("SUCCESS: Document parsed succesfully!\n\n");
  }


  xmlFreeDoc(doc);
}

---

When I compile, this is what I get:

Code:

---

$ gcc -o parse-xml parse-xml.c
parse-xml.c:5:28: fatal error: libxml2/parser.h: No such file or directory
compilation terminated.

---

I'm doing this in cygwin.

When I run the whereis command, libxml seems to be installed:

Code:

---

$ whereis libxml
libxml: /lib/libxml2.la /usr/lib/libxml2.la /usr/share/man/man3/libxml.3.gz

---

What am I doing wrong?

You need to also install the development files as well, not just run-time support for libxml.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Salem

You need to also install the development files as well, not just run-time support for libxml.

---

Right, the header files, got it. Configuring as I type.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Salem

You need to also install the development files as well, not just run-time support for libxml.

---

Ok, I got another question. I compiled libxml (configure + make + make install), but when I compile my app, the compiler can't find libxml/parser.h and libxml/tree.h. This is what I get:

Code:

---

$ gcc -o parse-xml parse-xml.cparse-xml.c:5:27: fatal error: libxml/parser.h: No such file or directory
compilation terminated.

---

Any idea on how to fix this problem? Did I not compile/install the right thing again?

Well if it didn't install in the default location, you need something like
gcc -I/path/to/header/files -o parse-xml parse-xml.c

Where the -I parameter is the directory containing libxml/parser.h

With gcc you may also set the environment variable CPATH to a list of directories. It is analogous to your platform's PATH variable except it applies to the paths where include files may be found.

See also the Developer Corner/Point 1 in the libxml2-FAQ, if you want to find out the correct paths for your system.

Bye, Andreas