# Get XML Node Attributes

> `UiPath.WebAPI.Activities.GetXMLNodeAttributes`

`UiPath.WebAPI.Activities.GetXMLNodeAttributes`

## Description

Retrieves the attributes of an XML Node.

## Project compatibility

**Windows - Legacy** | **Windows** | **Cross-platform**

## Cross-platform configuration

* **ExistingXMLNode** - The XML Node whose attributes are to be retrieved. This field supports only `XNode` variables. For more information on `XNode` objects, go [here](https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/dotnet/api/system.xml.linq.xnode?view=netcore-3.1).

### Advanced options

#### Output
* **Attributes** - An `IEnumerable<XAttribute>` variable containing the retrieved XML node attributes. For more information on `XAttribute` objects, go [here](https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/dotnet/api/system.xml.linq.xattribute?view=netcore-3.1).

## Windows - Legacy, Windows configuration

### Properties panel

#### Input
* **ExistingXMLNode** - The XML Node whose attributes are to be retrieved. This field supports only `XNode` variables. For more information on `XNode` objects, go [here](https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/dotnet/api/system.xml.linq.xnode?view=netcore-3.1).

#### Output
* **Attributes** - An `IEnumerable<XAttribute>` variable containing the retrieved XML node attributes. For more information on `XAttribute` objects, go [here](https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/dotnet/api/system.xml.linq.xattribute?view=netcore-3.1).

#### Misc
* **Private** - If selected, the values of variables and arguments are no longer logged at Verbose level.

#### Common
* **DisplayName** - The display name of the activity.

## Example of Using the Get XML Node Attributes Activity

The **Get XML Node Attributes** activity is used for processing `.xml` files.

To exemplify how to use this activity, we have created an example that reads an `.xml` file, converts it to an **XML** document, retrieves the individual nodes and writes an attribute and a value for each node.

This is how the automation process can be built:

1. Open Studio and create a new **Process**.
   :::note
   Make sure to place the `.xml` file inside the project folder. For this example we used the `XMLfiles.txt`.
   :::
2. Drag a **Sequence** to the Workflow Designer.
   * Create the following variables:

     | Variable Name | Variable Type | Default Value |
     | --- | --- | --- |
     | `XMLString` | **String** |  |
     | `XMLNodes` | **IEnumerable&lt;XNode&gt;** |  |
     | `XMLDocument` | **XDocument** |  |
3. Drag a **Read Text File** activity inside the sequence container.
   * In the **Properties** panel, add the name `Read XML file` in the **DisplayName** field.
   * Add the value `"XMLfiles.txt"` in the **FileName** field.
   * Add the variable `XMLString` in the **Content** field.
4. Drag a **Deserialize XML** activity under the **Read Text File** activity.
   * In the **Properties** panel, add the variable `XMLString` in the **XMLString** field and the variable `XMLDocument` in the **XMLDocument** field.
5. Place a **Get XML Nodes** activity after the **Deserialize XML** activity.
   * In the **Properties** panel, add the variable `XMLDocument` in the **ExistingXML** field and the variable `XMLNodes` in the **XMLNodes** field.
6. Drag a **For Each** activity after the **Get XML Nodes** activity.
   * Add the value `node` in the **Item** field and the variable `XMLNodes` in the **Values** field.
   * Select the `System.Xml.Linq.XNode` option from the **TypeArgument** drop-down list.
7. Select the **Body** of the **For Each** activity and create a new variable:

   | Variable Name | Variable Type | Default Value |
   | --- | --- | --- |
   | `XMLAttributes` | **IEnumerable&lt;XAttribute&gt;** |  |
8. Add a **Write Line** activity inside the **Body** container.
   * Add the expression `node.XPathSelectElement("author").ToString` in the **Text** field. This expression selects the name of the author from the `.xml` page and writes it in the **Output** panel.
9. Place a **Get XML Node Attributes** activity after the **Write Line** activity.
   * In the **Properties** panel, add the value `node` in the **ExistingXMLNode** field and the `XMLAttributes` variable in the **XMLAttributes** field.
10. Drag a **For Each** activity after the **Get XML Node Attributes** activity.
    * To open the activity, perform a double click.
    * Add the value `attribute` in the **Item** field and the variable `XMLAttributes` in the **Values** field.
    * In the **Properties** panel, select the `System.Xml.Linq.XAttribute` option from the **TypeArgument** drop-down list.
11. Select the **Body** of the **For Each** activity.
12. Drag a **Write Line** activity inside the **Body** container.
    * Add the expression `attribute.Value` in the **Text** field.
13. Run the process. The robot extracts an attribute and a value from the nodes, in this case, the name of the author and the book id, and displays them in the **Output** panel.

[Here](https://www.uipath.com/hubfs/Activities/GetXMLAttributes.zip) you can download an example.