managing multiple values within a single XML attribute

[jkrjamias 0]

Good Day!We would like to seek help on managing multiple values within a single XML attribute.

1. <Row>
2. <title>type Title here</title>
3. <description>type Description here</description>
4. <stage>Development</stage>
5. <platform>Java, .NET, Mainframe</platform>
6. <lifecycle>Custom Development</lifecycle>
7. <servicegroup>System Integration (SI), Technology Consulting (TC)</servicegroup>
8. </Row>

With the above sample xml, as you may notice, <platform> does have 3 values; (1) Java, (2) .NET and (3) Mainframe. We were able to load them separately. NOTE: We have 4 filters; (1) stage, (2) platform, (3) lifecycle and (4) servicegroup. PROBLEM: When we try to filter the platform and servicegroup. Scenario#1, we selected "Java" in the platform filter and use "where" condition. RESULT: It loads those items that has <platform>Java</platform> only and does not include <platform>Java, .NET, Mainframe</platform>. [bAD RESULT] Scenario#2, we selected "Java" in the platform filter and use "like" condition. RESULT: It loads all items that has <platform>Java</platform> and include <platform>Java, .NET, Mainframe</platform>. [GOOD RESULT] But the catch in using "like" condition is that it conflicts with platform values for "Oracle"...

1. <platform>Oracle</platform>
2. <platform>Oracle - PeopleSoft</platform>
3. <platform>Oracle - Retek</platform>
4. <platform>Oracle - Siebel</platform>

Oracle - PeopleSoft, Oracle - Retek and Oracle - Siebel are different to each other. So, what if I selected "Oracle" for platform filter? We expected items which only have <platform>Oracle</platform> and not all of those items that has "Oracle".Any help appreciated.

[JamesB 50]

how about splitting the sub entries into tags within the tag, like changing:

<platform>Java, .NET, Mainframe</platform>

to something like:

<platform>	<subentry>Java</subentry>	<subentry>.NET</subentry>	<subentry>Mainframe</subentry></platform>

and

<servicegroup>System Integration (SI), Technology Consulting (TC)</servicegroup>

into:

<servicegroup>	<subentry>System Integration (SI)</subentry>	<subentry>Technology Consulting (TC)</subentry></servicegroup>

and the code which searches for the text could perform this on each filter: - if there are sub entries, do a "where" on each sub entry's value- if there are no sub entries, do a "where" on the single value