Flash / Flex / ActionScript/XML/Double dot

pull all of the attributes from the entire XML document

   <source lang="java">

package{

 import flash.display.Sprite;
 
 public class Main extends Sprite{
   public function Main(){
       var movieList:XML = <movieList>
                               <listName>My favorite movies</listName>
                               <movie id="123">
                                   <title>Titus</title>
                                   <year>1999</year>
                                   <director>J T</director>
                               </movie>
                               <movie id="456">
                                   <title>Rushmore</title>
                                   <year>1998</year>
                                   <director>W A</director>
                               </movie>
                               <movie id="789">
                                   <title>Hall</title>
                                   <year>1977</year>
                                   <director>Woody Allen</director>
                               </movie>
                          </movieList>;
       
       trace(movieList..@*.toXMLString()); // Displays: 123
   }
 }

}

       </source>
   
  

The double-dot operator works for any level of nesting

   <source lang="java">

package{

 import flash.display.Sprite;
 
 public class Main extends Sprite{
   public function Main(){
       var author:XML = <author><name><firstName>Darron</firstName></name></author>;
       
       trace( author..firstName );
 
   }
 }

}

       </source>
   
  

Use the length( ) method to count the number of elements found: trace( items.item.length( ) );

   <source lang="java">

package{

 import flash.display.Sprite;
 
 public class Main extends Sprite{
   public function Main(){
   //    To examine every element node with a particular node name, use a for each loop
       var items:XML = <items>
                         <item>
                           <name>Apple</name>
                           <color>red</color>
                         </item>
                         <item>
                           <name>Orange</name>
                           <color>orange</color>
                         </item>
                       </items>;
       
       for each ( var name:XML in items..name ) {
         trace( name );    
       }
   }
 }

}

       </source>
   
  

Using the Descendant Accessor (..) to make a deep dive to the data without worrying about the path.

   <source lang="java">

package{

 import flash.display.Sprite;
 
 public class Main extends Sprite{
   public function Main(){
       var movieList:XML = <movieList>
                               <listName>My favorite movies</listName>
                               <movie id="123">
                                   <title>Titus</title>
                                   <year>1999</year>
                                   <director>J T</director>
                               </movie>
                               <movie id="456">
                                   <title>Rushmore</title>
                                   <year>1998</year>
                                   <director>W A</director>
                               </movie>
                               <movie id="789">
                                   <title>Hall</title>
                                   <year>1977</year>
                                   <director>Woody Allen</director>
                               </movie>
                          </movieList>;
       
       trace(movieList..title);
   }
 }

}

       </source>