Question : Parsing an XML string in PHP

I am making a query to a database service that is returning the data in an XML string. The following is an example of what is being returned. I have no idea how to go about parsing this into useable data. This XML appears to be much more complicated than all of the examples I have been able to find and my attempts at parsing this have failed. I only need the data from the <record id=..." tag on. I also need to retrieve the value that is set in the record tag. Thanks for your assistance.

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<ieiresponse>
<requestinformation code="100">
<codemessage>RECORDS FOUND</codemessage>
<inputs>
<firstname>RANDY</firstname>
<lastname>LAWRENCE</lastname>
<product>OFFENDERSCAN</product>
<includenulldob>0</includenulldob>
<includesexoffendernulldobs>1</includesexoffendernulldobs>
<exactdobmatchonly>0</exactdobmatchonly>
<exactnamematchonly>0</exactnamematchonly>
<probability>DEFAULT</probability>
<includejurisdictionssearched>0</includejurisdictionssearched>
</inputs>
</requestinformation>
<criminalinformation>
<records count="4">
<record id="owUn9D/HerIRpF6gI2EsFw==">
<category>SEX OFFENDER</category>
<sourceorjurisdiction>NJ SEX OFFENDER REGISTRY</sourceorjurisdiction>
<fullname>RANDY S LAWRENCE</fullname>
<firstname>RANDY</firstname>
<middlename>S</middlename>
<lastname>LAWRENCE</lastname>
<fulldob>09/21/1967</fulldob>
<sex>MALE</sex>
<race>BLACK</race>
<haircolor>BLACK</haircolor>
<eyecolor>BROWN</eyecolor>
<weight>215 LBS</weight>
<height>5 FEET 09 INCHES</height>
<scarsmarks>TATTOO:LEFT ARM - MP/NEW YORK; TATTOO:LEFT FOREARM - CHINESE SYMBOL; TATTOO:LEFT FOREARM - JAPAN WRITING; TATTOO:NECK - BRAVE HEART/SHARK; TATTOO:RIGHT ARM - BAND W/MOON & STAR</scarsmarks>
<age>42</age>
<photoname>https://xml.innovativedatasolutions.com/NatCrimWs/getPhoto.aspx?photo=g4iXOnXl7uaRiZYvdAhgMdPFS4WIF36dJ2pE6s5NSs4%3d</photoname>
<comments>DATE PUBLISHED: 03/18/2008; ALIAS DATE OF BIRTH/AGE: 01/02/1965, 45, 09/12/1967, 42; PHOTO DATE: 07/10/2009;OFFENDER RISK LEVEL: MODERATE</comments>
<aliases count="10">
<alias>
<fullname>RAHIB LAWRENCE</fullname>
<fulldob>09/21/1967</fulldob>
</alias>
<alias>
<fullname>RANDAL LAWRENCE</fullname>
<fulldob>09/21/1967</fulldob>
</alias>
<alias>
<fullname>RANDAL S LAWRENCE</fullname>
<fulldob>09/21/1967</fulldob>
</alias>
<alias>
<fullname>RANDALL LAWRENCE</fullname>
<fulldob>09/21/1967</fulldob>
</alias>
<alias>
<fullname>RANDALL S LAWRENCE</fullname>
<fulldob>09/21/1967</fulldob>
</alias>
<alias>
<fullname>RANDY LAWRENCE</fullname>
<fulldob>09/21/1967</fulldob>
</alias>
<alias>
<fullname>VERNON LAWRENCE</fullname>
<fulldob>09/21/1967</fulldob>
</alias>
<alias>
<fullname>LAWRENCE RANDAL</fullname>
<fulldob>09/21/1967</fulldob>
</alias>
<alias>
<fullname>LAWRENCE S RANDAL</fullname>
<fulldob>09/21/1967</fulldob>
</alias>
<alias>
<fullname>KNIGHT S SUGE</fullname>
<fulldob>09/21/1967</fulldob>
</alias>
</aliases>
<addresses count="1">
<address>
<address1>591 BUCKELEW AVENUE</address1>
<city>MONROE TWP</city>
<state>NJ</state>
<zip>08831</zip>
</address>
</addresses>
<offenses count="1">
<offense>
<offensedescription>SEXUAL ASSAULT</offensedescription>
<convictiondate>03/04/2002</convictiondate>
<convictionlocation>MIDDLESEX</convictionlocation>
<comments>EVENT DETAILS: OFFENDER HAD CONSENSUAL SEX WITH A JUVENILE FEMALE ACQUAINTANCE.;VICTIM AGE: UNDER18; VICTIM GENDER: FEMALE</comments>
</offense>
</offenses>
</record>
<record id="4B27YEI8aFq0da+nqlT2rg==">
<category>SEX OFFENDER</category>
<sourceorjurisdiction>FL SEX OFFENDER REGISTRY</sourceorjurisdiction>
<fullname>RANDY THOMAS LAWRENCE</fullname>
<firstname>RANDY</firstname>
<middlename>THOMAS</middlename>
<lastname>LAWRENCE</lastname>
<fulldob>06/10/1955</fulldob>
<sex>MALE</sex>
<race>WHITE</race>
<haircolor>BLACK</haircolor>
<eyecolor>HAZEL</eyecolor>
<weight>115 LBS</weight>
<height>5 FEET 04 INCHES</height>
<photoname>https://xml.innovativedatasolutions.com/NatCrimWs/getPhoto.aspx?photo=7cvZtkfGuoMQAy%2fb%2b%2bbolXN5GkDmywnvprG3pkij8uJuPC15hkQHzJ8EH4OP%2fkbr</photoname>
<comments>STATUS: SUPERVISED - FL DEPT OF CORRECTIONS;ID NUMBERS: DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS NUMBER:K66666; OFFENDER CLASSIFICATION: OFFENDER</comments>
<addresses count="1">
<address>
<address1>1218 ORANGE AVE</address1>
<city>FORT PIERCE</city>
<state>FL</state>
<zip>34950-8858</zip>
</address>
</addresses>
<offenses count="1">
<offense>
<comments>VICTIM AGE: ADULT</comments>
</offense>
</offenses>
</record>

Answer : Parsing an XML string in PHP

Here you go, assuming you have the XML in a string then the following should illustrate what you need to do to extract it.

                       
         
           
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             <?php

$data = ..... load your data


$xml = simplexml_load_string( $data );

$firstName = (string) $xml->requestinformation->inputs->firstname;
$lastName = (string) $xml->requestinformation->inputs->lastname;


echo "$firstName $lastName<br/>";

foreach( $xml->criminalinformation->records->record as $aRecord ) {
     $category = (string)$aRecord->category;
     $fullName = (string)$aRecord->fullname;

     echo "Offender: $fullName - $category<br/>";

     foreach ( $aRecord->aliases->alias as $anAlias )
         echo "{$anAlias->fullname}<br/>";
}

           
         