How to read XML through Javascript

Hello I'm new with AJAX and I'm trying to read an XML file with Javascript. It's supposed to display an alert message but it's not. What's wrong with my code?

Thanks!
:)

HTML

<html>
<head>
<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=ISO-8859-1">
<title>XML Exercise</title>
<script type="text/javascript" src="xmlExercise.js"></script>
</head>
<body onLoad="getData()">

</body>
</html>

Javascript - xmlExercise.js

function getData()
{
	var Request = false;
	var docElement, childOne, childTwo, textNode, targetData;
	
	if (window.XMLHttpRequest)
	{
		Request = new XMLHttpRequest();
	}
	else if (window.ActiveXObject)
	{
		Request = new ActiveXObject("Microsoft.XMLHTTP");
	}
	
	if (Request)
	{
		Request.open("GET", "library.xml");
		Request.onreadystatechange = function()
		{
			if (Request.readyState == 4 && Request.status == 200)
			{
				var xmlDoc = Request.responseXML;
				ClearOutWhiteSpace(xmlDoc);
				docElement = xmlDoc.documentElement;
				childOne = docElement.firstChild;
				childTwo = childOne.nextSibling;
				textNode = childTwo.firstChild;
				targetData = textNode.nodeValue;
				window.alert("There are " + targetData + " in the library.");
			}
		}
	}
	Request.send(null);
}

function ClearOutWhiteSpace(xmlFile)
{
	var i = 0;
	for (i = 0; i < xmlFile.childNodes.length; i++)
	{
		var tag = xmlFile.chlidNodes[i];
		if (tag.nodeType == 1)
		{
			ClearOutWhiteSpace(tag);
		}
		if ((tag.nodeType == 3) && (/^\s+$/.test(tag.nodeValue)))
		{
			xmlFile.removeChild(xmlFile.childNodes[i--]);
		}
	}
}

XML - library.xml

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<library>
	<History>57 Volumes</History>
	<Biography>78 Volumes</Biography>
	<Military>104 Volumes</Military>
	<SciFi>61 Volumes</SciFi>
</library>

4

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sanityhien

Newbie Poster

3 posts since Dec 2011

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1 Year Ago

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I'd have to look this up myself, however, it is a better idea to use JSON instead of XML for AJAX.

stbuchok

Practically a Posting Shark

882 posts since May 2011

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1 Year Ago

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I just realized how funny that sounds considering what AJAX stands for, however, look at using JSON.

stbuchok

Practically a Posting Shark

882 posts since May 2011

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1 Year Ago

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ok thanks, i'll look into JSON! but if any of you have an idea why this is not working, please tell, thank you :)

sanityhien

Newbie Poster

3 posts since Dec 2011

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How are you serving the documents?

Airshow

WiFi Lounge Lizard

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2,782 posts since Apr 2009

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1 Year Ago

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How are you serving the documents?

all documents are in the same folder. The problem is I don't know the problem. Would you know what's wrong with my code? I can't seem to read any kind of XML. Thanks

sanityhien

Newbie Poster

3 posts since Dec 2011

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1 Year Ago

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OK, but how are you serving the documents; Apache, IIS, Windows localHost?

Airshow

WiFi Lounge Lizard

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2,782 posts since Apr 2009

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1 Year Ago

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Airshow's tag line says it all

50% of the solution lies in accurately describing the problem!

I would also say it could be modified to say the following:

40% of the solution lies in accurately describing the problem!
40% of the solution lies in understanding the problem!
20% of the solution lies in good coffee!

stbuchok

Practically a Posting Shark

882 posts since May 2011

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1 Year Ago

0

I just read out the code, but didn't find any problems with it.
I'm pretty sure your ajax call is not being served at all.
You may have ran into some sort of a security issue.

Troy III

Master Poster

782 posts since Jun 2008

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How to read XML through Javascript

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