Builder

Builds an XML document by adding tags, values and attributes to a template, following a list of specs.

The Builder action in the XML folder starts from a template XML and adds new tags to it, following a list of specs. Each spec says where (an XPath), which tag, what value and, optionally, which attributes. Unlike XML Processor, Builder always adds a tag, even when one with the same name exists, so it suits repeated elements such as invoice lines.

Add the action

In the Process Designer toolbox, open XML and pick Builder (or type Builder in the search box).

The Builder action properties: Builder Specs, Prefixes (if applicable), Template XML and Output XML

Inputs and outputs

Field	Direction	Type	Required	What to put / what you get
Builder Specs	Input	Text (JSON)	Yes	The list of specs, as a JSON array (see below).
Prefixes (if applicable)	Input	Text (JSON)	No	Namespace prefixes as a JSON object, for example `{"cbc": "urn:…:CommonBasicComponents-2"}`. Leave empty when you use none.
Template XML	Input	Text	Yes	The XML to start from, for example `<Invoice></Invoice>`.
Output XML	Output	Text	Yes	The resulting XML.

The specs

Property	What it does
`xpath`	Required. Selects the node(s) to add the tag under.
`xmlTag`	The tag to add. Write `prefix:Tag` to use a prefix from Prefixes (if applicable).
`newValue`	The tag's value.
`attribute`	Optional. A list of attributes, each written as `name=value`, for example `["qty=2", "unit=pcs"]`.

Example

Template XML <Invoice><Line>Existing</Line></Invoice>, Builder Specs:

[
  { "xpath": "/Invoice", "xmlTag": "Line", "newValue": "A" },
  { "xpath": "/Invoice", "xmlTag": "Line", "newValue": "B", "attribute": ["qty=2", "unit=pcs"] }
]

Output XML:

<Invoice><Line>Existing</Line><Line>A</Line><Line qty="2" unit="pcs">B</Line></Invoice>

With a namespace: Template XML <Invoice></Invoice>, Prefixes (if applicable) {"cbc": "urn:oasis:names:specification:ubl:schema:xsd:CommonBasicComponents-2"}, Builder Specs [{"xpath":"/Invoice","xmlTag":"cbc:ID","newValue":"INV-1"}] → Output XML:

<Invoice><cbc:ID xmlns:cbc="urn:oasis:names:specification:ubl:schema:xsd:CommonBasicComponents-2">INV-1</cbc:ID></Invoice>

Good to know

Each new tag is added as the last child of every node the xpath selects. Existing tags are never changed.
Specs run in order, so a later spec can add under a tag an earlier one created.
If a spec's xpath matches nothing, Output XML is empty (the step does not fail). If more specs follow, the next one fails with Template xml cannot be null or empty.
XML that is not well-formed, or an invalid XPath, fails the step with Input XML or XPath was not valid.

XML Processor, Update, Mapper, JSON To XML