How do I parse output from a method call to client.profile? about linkedin HOT 7 CLOSED

It seems from the documentation that most people actually get the desired string output or a hash or something, I'm not clear why I am getting this object instead?

from linkedin.

The documentation on this API could definitely be improved.
I basically dumped out the profile structure to learn what was returned.
Then I was able to access certain fields. For example:

profile = client.profile(:fields => [:id, :first_name, :last_name, :summary, :educations, :positions, :picture_url, :headline, :location, :site_standard_profile_request])
logger.debug(profile.inspect)

first_name = ''
if profile.respond_to?('first_name ')
  first_name = profile.first_name
end

if profile.respond_to?('educations')
  educations = profile.educations
  logger.debug(educations.inspect)
  educations.each do |e|
    school_name = e.school_name
    major = e.field_of_study
    degree_name = e.degree
    year = e.end_year
  end
end

The fields in the profile structure are documented here:
http://developer.linkedin.com/docs/DOC-1002 (See "Sample Return XML")

from linkedin.

Hey Guys,

There is no doubt that docs could be improved. As the master branch is under development I would recommend checkout out the 2-0-stable branch. Pull requests happily accepted :)

As for the object returned, this is the Profile object which maps methods to the underlying xml doc, similar to how the rest of the gem works. The master branch will bring is a new way of interacting with the API, once I find some time I will get working on it and hope to finish it soon.

I'm closing this issue as it more seems to be an issue around docs then functionality.

Thanks,

Josh

from linkedin.

What is the right way then....I moved to the master branch, but it sounds like we need to go back to the older one....can someone explain how to actually access speific fields...I'm starting to get it from the examle above, thanks....

from linkedin.

Hi, jumpshot thanks for the example...I think I get it....is there a way to directly access the XML doc in the Profile Object or whatever object and then pass that to something that converts XML to Hash to be able to access it more directly?

from linkedin.

extending the question:

I tried this, but didn't work out, got undefined method empty?' for #<LinkedIn::Profile:0x000001043d6a08>

action:
 @profile = client.profile;
 @doc = Nokogiri::XML(@profile);   

view
 <%= debug @doc %>

#tried Nokogiri::XML.parse(@profile) in action, but that returns LinkedIn profile is not a string

from linkedin.

Instead of responding with pure XML this gem returns Mash results which are easier to work with.

from linkedin.