Access part of SimpleXMLElement Object - PHP - php

Question

I need to loop through the items as an array within the SimpleXMLElement Object below but cannot seem to access it using $order->order->order->items. I can access the delivery and billing addresses using the same format, ie. $order->order->order->delivery_address and expected to get to the items array in the same way. However, I get an empty SimpleXMLElement Object when I print_r($order->order->order->items)
SimpleXMLElement Object
(
[order] => SimpleXMLElement Object
(
[id] => 860268
[shopkeeper_orderno] => 1001
[customer] => 797476
[creationdate] => Apr 19 2012 10:36:38:100AM
[reference] => k2koju45rmaqfl45n20xbkmq
[net] => 1500
[vat] => 17.5
[status] => 0
[isnew] => 1
[deductions] => 0
[postage] => 1
[paymentmethod] => PayPal
[instructions] => SimpleXMLElement Object
(
)
[errors] => SimpleXMLElement Object
(
)
[kashflow_synch] => 0
[order] => Array
(
[0] => SimpleXMLElement Object
(
[billing_address] => SimpleXMLElement Object
(
[0] =>
)
)
[1] => SimpleXMLElement Object
(
[delivery_address] => SimpleXMLElement Object
(
[0] =>
)
)
[2] => SimpleXMLElement Object
(
[items] => Array
(
[0] => SimpleXMLElement Object
(
[id] => 1285158
[headerID] => 860268
[productID] => 4867690
[description] => TEST ORDERING PF NODES - Special Offer Price
[net] => 1400
[vat] => 0
[qty] => 1
[formID] => -1
)
[1] => SimpleXMLElement Object
(
[id] => 1285159
[headerID] => 860268
[productID] => 4959678
[description] => Wedding dress
[net] => 100
[vat] => 17.5
[qty] => 1
[formID] => -1
)
)
)
)
[postage_tax] => 0
[dispatched] => 0
[paybyotherid] => -1
[ip] => 81.168.43.121
[wheredidyouhearid] => -1
)
)

Answer 1

EDIT: I just saw you made a mistake with the naming, the parent needs to be called <orders> and the sub items <order>
The SimpleXMLElement seems to be empty, in fact it's usually filled but not displayed when dumping (whoever thought of this crazy behaviour)
Can you try this?
foreach($order->orders->order as $order) { // should be orders then
echo $item->getName();
}
Or try it with SimpleXMLElement::children()

Answer 2

your items are actually on the second offset of the order array.
I'd just use the xPath to process these.
foreach($xmlObject->xpath('/order/order[2]/items') as $item)
{
// Do something with my $item
}

Answer 3

You can use a loop like the one below, then all you need to do is $items->id
foreach($order->children()->children()->items as $items)
{
}

Answer 4

Using Dan Lees suggestion I tried SimpleXMLElement::children() and did the below which works
foreach ($order->children() as $order) {
foreach ($order->children() as $order_details) {
foreach ($order_details->children() as $order_items) {
echo $order_items->id;
}
}
}