How to parse a .plist file with php? - php

Question

Can i parse a plist file with php and kind of get it into an array, like the $_POST[''] so i could call $_POST['body'] and get the string that has the <key> body ?

Answer 1

CFPropertyList - A PHP Implementation Of Apple's plist (PropertyList)

Answer 2

Googling for "php plist parser" turned up this blog post that seems to be able to do what you are asking for.

Answer 3

Took a look at some of the libraries out there but they have external requirements and seem overkill. Here's a function that simply puts the data in to associative arrays. This worked on a couple of exported itunes plist files I tried.
// pass in the full plist file contents
function parse_plist($plist) {
$result = false;
$depth = [];
$key = false;
$lines = explode("\n", $plist);
foreach ($lines as $line) {
$line = trim($line);
if ($line) {
if ($line == '<dict>') {
if ($result) {
if ($key) {
// adding a new dictionary, the line above this one should've had the key
$depth[count($depth) - 1][$key] = [];
$depth[] =& $depth[count($depth) - 1][$key];
$key = false;
} else {
// adding a dictionary to an array
$depth[] = [];
}
} else {
// starting the first dictionary which doesn't have a key
$result = [];
$depth[] =& $result;
}
} else if ($line == '</dict>' || $line == '</array>') {
array_pop($depth);
} else if ($line == '<array>') {
$depth[] = [];
} else if (preg_match('/^\<key\>(.+)\<\/key\>\<.+\>(.+)\<\/.+\>$/', $line, $matches)) {
// <key>Major Version</key><integer>1</integer>
$depth[count($depth) - 1][$matches[1]] = $matches[2];
} else if (preg_match('/^\<key\>(.+)\<\/key\>\<(true|false)\/\>$/', $line, $matches)) {
// <key>Show Content Ratings</key><true/>
$depth[count($depth) - 1][$matches[1]] = ($matches[2] == 'true' ? 1 : 0);
} else if (preg_match('/^\<key\>(.+)\<\/key\>$/', $line, $matches)) {
// <key>1917</key>
$key = $matches[1];
}
}
}
return $result;
}