Django-Python: Generate XML file from model data

Question

I need to write model data (CharFields only) to an XML file to contain the data for a flash file. I am new to this, and the process is a little unclear to me for doing this in django. I am creating an xml file, and then writing the text data to the file (as is done with the csv module, but to xml). A very simplified xml file should result for the flash file to read, ie:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<textFields>
     <textField id="0" text="HELLO WORLD" />
     <textField id="1" text="HELLO EARTH" />
     ...
</textFields>

1. I am using a serializer to write the xml data from the model:

   from django.core import serializers data = serializers.serialize('xml', myModel.objects.filter(instanceIwantTowrite), fields=('fieldName'))

2. I then create file using core.files:

   from django.core.files import File

   f = open('/path/to/new/dir/content.xml', 'w')

   myfile = File(f)

3. Write File data and close:

   myfile.write(data)

   myfile.close()

This works so far, although the xml output contains the fields for the object "django-objects" etc, and I will have to see if I can interpret this in ActionScript easily for the flash file. I would prefer to define the xml field names manually like in the csv module. As I am new to django and python, I am wondering if there is an easier, simpler way to do this?

note: In serializer I use filter on the model objects because using 'get' for the model instance returns an 'object not iterable' error. In fact i filter it twice to get a single instance, seems like there must be a better way.

Answer 1

You have two possible solutions here:

1.

You can extend base django xml serializer(django.core.serializers.xml_serializer.Serializer) and modify it so it will return data in your structure. You could then run ex.

YourSerializer('xml', myModel.objects.filter(instanceIwantTowrite), fields=('fieldName'))

and it will output data in your structure.

2.

Write simple function that will render template with your data structure and return xml data in your format:

Python code

from django.template.loader import render_to_string

def my_serialize(query_set):
    xml = render_to_string('xml_template.xml', {'query_set': query_set})

    return xml

Template xml_template.xml

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<textFields>
     {% for object in query_set %}
     <textField id="{{ object.pk }}" text="{{ object.my_field }}" />
     {% endfor %}
</textFields>