PHP load as XML in JQuery - php

Question

I am trying to load in XML to populate a search box. The code I have works fine with a static xml file, but I need to load in a PHP file to generate a dynamic XML file based on data from a database.
I knwo the PHP file generates the XML as it loads in a browser and the page source shows the correct nodes etc, however when I reference the .php file in my JavaScript it fails to load, or show an error... Using the .xml file (which is a replica of the php output source) it loads fine.
I would like someone to check to see if I am encoding the XML correctly or missing something in my JavaScript... and advice will be greatly appreciated.
JS
var myArr = [];
$.ajax({
url: "people.php", // change to full path of file on server
type: "GET",
dataType: "xml",
success: parseXml,
complete: setupAC,
failure: function(data) {
alert("XML File could not be found");
}
});
function parseXml(xml){
$(xml).find("person").each(function(){
var thisItem = $(this).find('name').text();
myArr.push(thisItem);
alert(thisItem);
});
}
PHP
<?php
include '../../inc_global/connect.php';
$query = 'SELECT * FROM candidates';
$result = mysql_query($query, $link);
$xmlOutput = "<?xml version=\"1.0\" encoding=\"UTF-8\"?>\n";
$xmlOutput .= "<people>\n";
while ($line = mysql_fetch_assoc($result)) {
$xmlOutput .= "<person>\n";
$xmlOutput .= "<name>" . $line['name'] . "</name>\n";
$xmlOutput .= "</person>\n";
}
$xmlOutput .= "</people>\n";
echo $xmlOutput;
mysql_close($link);
?>

Answer 1

Try to put header right before outputting information:
....
header ("Content-Type:text/xml");
echo $xmlOutput;
....
Fullcode:
<?php
include '../../inc_global/connect.php';
$query = 'SELECT * FROM candidates';
$result = mysql_query($query, $link);
$xmlOutput = "<?xml version=\"1.0\" encoding=\"UTF-8\"?>\n";
$xmlOutput .= "<people>\n";
while ($line = mysql_fetch_assoc($result)) {
$xmlOutput .= "<person>\n";
$xmlOutput .= "<name>" . $line['name'] . "</name>\n";
$xmlOutput .= "</person>\n";
}
$xmlOutput .= "</people>\n";
header ("Content-Type:text/xml"); //<----------- xml header here
echo $xmlOutput;
mysql_close($link);
?>

Answer 2

Check what's happening in php pointing your browser to people.php.
Anyway I advice you to:
drop mysql_ for PDO
As mysql_ funcs are bad and will prevent from meeting chicks, while PDO helps;
use SimpleXML against raw XML
SimpleXML helps you structure your code without getting mad in chaining strings.
give proper HTTP header to your document
You are generating an XML document, let the browser be aware of that:
header ("Content-Type:text/xml");
echo $xmlOutput;

Answer 3

Can you make sure that the function parseXml(xml) doesn't need any parameter when it is called on success of ajax call. Please note that I haven't tried the code but just a guess is here.