From: Paul Lutus <nospam@...>
Date: 2006-12-06T18:10:09+09:00
Subject: Re: Newbie: working with a text file and converting to xml

Adam Teale wrote:

> Hi Kev & Peter!
> 
> Thanks for respoding so quickly!
> 
> The text file looks pretty much like that
> 
> 00:00:30:13  Swayambhunath Temple: building started 460AD
> 00:00:42:21  Durbar Square
> 00:01:05:06  Driving to Trisuli River for Rafting
> 00:01:55:22  Day 1 Trekking: Pokhara to Tirkhedhunga (1540m)
> 00:02:20:20  Day 2 Trekking: Tirkhedhunga to Ghorephani (2750m)
> 00:02:33:19  Day 3 Trekking: Ghorephani to Ghandruk (1940m)
> 00:02:42:04  Day 4 Trekking: Ghandruk to Pothana (1900m)
> 00:03:10:13  Day 5 Trekking: Pothana to Phedi (1130m)
> 
> It'll take a while for your example to filter down into my brain - when
> it does I'll get back to you about it.

--------------------------------------------

#!/usr/bin/ruby -w

data =<<__EOL__
00:00:30:13     Swayambhunath Temple: building started 460AD
00:00:42:21     Durbar Square
00:01:05:06     Driving to Trisuli River for Rafting
00:01:55:22     Day 1 Trekking: Pokhara to Tirkhedhunga (1540m)
00:02:20:20     Day 2 Trekking: Tirkhedhunga to Ghorephani (2750m)
00:02:33:19     Day 3 Trekking: Ghorephani to Ghandruk (1940m)
00:02:42:04     Day 4 Trekking: Ghandruk to Pothana (1900m)
00:03:10:13     Day 5 Trekking: Pothana to Phedi (1130m)
__EOL__

output = "<?xml version=\"1.0\" encoding=\"ISO-8859-1\"?>\n"

data.each do |line|
  timecode,subtitle = line.strip.split("\t")
  xml =
"<item><timecode>#{timecode}</timecode><subtitle>#{subtitle}</subtitle></item>"
  output += xml + "\n"
end

File.open("output.xml","w") { |f| f.write output }

--------------------------------------------

The data block at the top can easily be replaced with a file reader line:

data = File.read(filename)

-- 
Paul Lutus
http://www.arachnoid.com