VRL to XML issue with empty xml segments.

[Vincent Tran]

I have a VRL file that when translated, generates many empty unwanted xml segments. This doesn’t happen when translating from an HL7 file to xml though.

small example:

ABC|123|||

translates to:

<1>ABC<2>123<3 /><4 />

Note the 3rd and 4th fields.

I can remove it using a post script, but I am wondering if maybe I just configured my VRL incorrectly such that it doesn’t recognize nulls. Attached is a screenshot of my VRL configuration.

– Vincent

Topic

[Jim Kosloskey]

Vincent,

I am expecting you are doing an Xlate.

If so, you could check each field for @null and not copy if it is null.

However, it may be that the XML schema somehow specifies that each element is required and thus will be created even if there is no value.

In that case, perhaps a change to the XML schema will allow empty tags to disappear.

Of course, I am speaking from very little experience with XML and Cloverleaf(R).

Thanks,

Jim Kosloskey

email: jim.kosloskey@jim-kosloskey.com

[Vincent Tran]

Thanks for the reply Jim.

The XML schema/dtd is fine because I use it for HL7 to XML xlate.

This is interesting, I echo $xlateInVals and it prints out {}

If I go:

set xlateOutVals $xlateInVals

although the value of $xlateInVals is {}, it still generates the empty xml segment.

However if I go:

set xlateOutVals {}

it doesn’t generate the empty xml segment like it is suppose to.

[Jim Kosloskey]

vincent,

Hmmm,

Try

set xlateOutVals [lindex $xlateInVals]

       instead of

set xlateOutVals $XlateInVals

       and let us know what happens.

Thanks,

Jim Kosloskey

email: jim.kosloskey@jim-kosloskey.com

[Vincent Tran]

That generates the empty XML segment as well.

[Jim Kosloskey]

Vincent,

I hate to keep putting you through this but – what happens with

set xlateOutVals

Thanks,

Jim Kosloskey

email: jim.kosloskey@jim-kosloskey.com

[Vincent Tran]

That too generates an empty xml segment.

However for non empty fields in the VRL, it does not output the XML segment using set xlateOutVals

[Author]

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