Using Linux Bash Script to get data from XML file

Question

I have a XML files with data in it that I need to extract with a Linux Bash Script. For example, I need everything in the brackets and to print out in terminal accordingly (first name in next to first description).

What is the best way to do this? I was able to do it with c# using XPath, but I can't do that simply using a Linux Bash Script correct? I know I can get most of it done with awk, sed, grep, cut ect, but I don't think (actually I know I am not) doing it properly. I am at a point were I extracted description data to a file and name to a file, but after a few hours, I realized this is not the best/proper way.

Example of how it should read is.

• name1 - description1
• name2 - description2
• name3 - (blank)
• name4 - description3

Thank you!

If I can add any detail to make it clearer, please let me know! (Brain is a little fried from a long day at work)

Sample XML (simplified it down to one instance)

<zabbix_export> <templates> <template> <items> <item> <name>Available memory</name> <description>Available memory is defined as free+cached+buffers memory.</description> </item> </items> </template> <templates> 

How it should read out:

<name>Available memory</name> - <description>Available memory is defined as free+cached+buffers memory.</description> <name>Another Name</name> - <description>Another Description</description> <name>Another Name</name> - <description>Another Description</description> <name>Another Name</name> - <description>Another Description</description> 

Answer 1

command

xmlstarlet sel -t -m '//item/*' -c . -n input.xml | sed '2~2s/$/\n/' | awk -F'\n' -vRS='' '{print $1" - "$2}' 

output

<name>Available memory</name> - <description>Available memory is defined as free+cached+buffers memory.</description> <name>Available memory</name> - <description>Available memory is defined as free+cached+buffers memory.</description> <name>Available memory</name> - <description>Available memory is defined as free+cached+buffers memory.</description> 

Answer 2

You can launch an xpath command from bash. It installs with Perl XML and allows you to do any XPath queries to stdout very comfortably.

Answer 3

If the xpath executable is not installed, you can install it like so:

cpan XML::XPath 

That should download the necessary Perl module, and install the xpath binary.