Ricebridge Competition #4

Win an XML Manager single developer license!

Deadline: Monday 6 Sep 2010 11.00 AM UTC

So what do I have to do to enter?

Every week we give out free licenses for the fastest/shortest/most fiendish XPath expressions. We set a challenge XML document, tell you what data we want you to get out of it, and then you have come up with some XPath expressions that will work in the XML Manager demo. Easy!

Congratulations to Jose and Gustavo, last weeks winners! Here are some previous winners and their excellent XPaths. (Hint: previous winning solutions are shown on the previous winners page.)

This Week's Challenge:

Think up some XPath expressions (compatible with XML Manager) that will extract from this XML document...

<blogs>

<blog href="http://one.example.com/blog/" name="Blog One">

<post>
<date>20060601</date>
<entry href="http://one.example.com/blog/post01.html">Post 01</entry>
<note>Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet...</note>
</post>

<post>
<date>20060602</date>
<entry href="http://one.example.com/blog/post02.html">Post 02</entry>
<note>Consectetur adipisicing elit...</note>
</post>

</blog>


<blog href="http://two.example.com" name="Blog Two">

<post>
<date>20060611</date>
<entry href="http://one.example.com/entry-1.html">First Post</entry>
<note>Sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt...</note>
</post>

<post>
<date>20060612</date>
<entry href="http://one.example.com/entry-2.html">Second Post</entry>
<note>Ut labore et dolore magna aliqua...</note>
</post>

</blog>


</blogs>

...the following data:

Hint: you'll need to use absolute paths.

Got some questions about this competition? Need some clarifications on the XML? No Problem. Just Ask!

How Can I Test My XPaths?

Just use the XML Manager Demo page to try out your XPaths and refine them into perfection.

Entry Form

Cut-and-paste your XPath expressions into our entry form, put in your name and email address, and click Enter. At the end of the week we'll decide on the winning entry and the runners-up.

Hey! What are you going to do with my email? Well we need it to let you know you've won. Here's what we'll do: You'll get one email to confirm your entry (we check all entries manually). And you've get one email telling you the results. And that's it. We're not collecting your email so we can pester you, we're just running a competition to highlight our nifty products. If you do win, as a Ricebridge user you will get the occasional mail with our latest product news, but you can turn those off as well.

What Happens When I Win?

We'll send you a mail with your login details so that you can download your prize. First place wins a single developer license for XML Manager worth $170.00. And there are 10 runners-up prizes of a single developer license for CSV Manager worth $170.00. You will then count as a normal Ricebridge customer with a full Ricebridge account.

Do You Have an Archive of Previous Winners/Challenges?

Yes we do. Check out the previous winners page.

What Are The Rules?

This is the bit that is usually in small print. But we're not trying to be clever, so our rules are right here in nice, normal, easy-to-read text.

1. Our decision is final, binding, not subject to review, and no correspondence will be entered into. We'll be making a decision based on our own aesthetic sensibilities, and that's just the way it is.

2. All entries and any comments submitted with the entry are considered to be in the public domain. That means that you agree to waive any copyright claims on the XPath expressions and text in the entry. Everybody gains with this because everybody can use the resulting XPath expressions. If you are not happy with this please do not enter, as the act of entering the competition will consitute agreement with this copyright waiver.

3. The competition is normally held weekly (but may not be held in some weeks). The deadline for entries is 11:00 AM GMT Monday. Entries received after this date will not be considered. The winners will be announced by the following Friday (but probably sooner). Winners will be contacted by email.

4. You agree to be listed on our winners page. We will link your name and/or company name to your own website or your employers website, if you request. We will post your entry. If you have included comments with your entry we may include those and we may edit them. You grant us a right to do that. We may make our own comments on your entry.

5. The prize consists solely and entirely of a software license for one developer. The prize is an XML Manager single developer license. There may be more than one winner, based on the quality of the entries. The prize does not include technical support. But we have really good documentation, honest!.

6. To qualify, your entry must satisfy the following technical requirements. You must clearly label one and only one valid 1.0 XPath expression as the RECORD expression. You must clearly label each field XPATH expression in order as FIELD 1., FIELD 2., etc. There must be at least one field expression. The expressions must function correctly in the live XML Manager demo. The expressions must correctly extract data from the particular example, if any, given with the competition question, by reproducing the exact data output required by the question. You may include explanatory and supporting text describing your entry.

7. You may submit as many entries as you like, but only the most recent one counts — all the others are discarded. You may enter as many different competitions as you like, but you can only win each prize once.

8. If you accept the prize, you agree to release Ricebridge, its employees and proprietors, its officers and agents, and all associated parties, from any and all liability, loss or damages, arising from, or in connection with, the awarding, receipt, use or misuse, of the prize, or any activities relating to the prize or entry of the compettion.

9. We reserve the right to disqualify any entrant without providing a reason ( and you will certainly be disqualified if you engage in plagiarism, gaming our website and unethical or abusive behaviour).

10. We reserve the right to change the rules at any time.

11. The prize consists exclusively of a single developer software license, which you must accept. Cash or goods and services to equivalent value are NOT offered. It you do not accept the prize you do NOT have a right to receive anything else in lieu of the prize. You must download the prize via your own Internet connection. The prize will NOT be delivered to you on physical media. Ricebridge does NOT guarantee the availability of our website or download facility as these may be offline from time to time.

12. You are solely responsible for paying any taxes on prize winnings in your own jurisdiction.

13. If you submit the same solution as somebody else, whoever submitted it first wins.

14. We reserve the right to end the competition at any time. At our discretion, outstanding entries may qualify as winners.

Anything More?

Nope.

Well, what are waiting for? Start your XPath!

Oh. And Good Luck!