Xml Surgeon

Overview

Use scripts/cli.py for XPath-based XML reads/edits with minimal formatting drift. Prefer dry-run + diff, then in-place write.

Entry point

Cross-platform:

uv run --script <skill-dir>/scripts/cli.py ...

Set <skill-dir> to this skill directory. Do not rely on shell sourcing, executable bits, or shebang dispatch.

Quick start

• Inspect matches:
  • uv run --script <skill-dir>/scripts/cli.py select --xpath "//field[@name='arch']" path/to/file.xml
• Read text or attr:
  • uv run --script <skill-dir>/scripts/cli.py get --xpath "//field[@name='name']" path/to/file.xml
  • uv run --script <skill-dir>/scripts/cli.py get --xpath "//record" --attr id path/to/file.xml
• Show subtree or inner XML:
  • uv run --script <skill-dir>/scripts/cli.py show --xpath "//record[@id='view_form']" path/to/file.xml
  • uv run --script <skill-dir>/scripts/cli.py show --xpath "//field[@name='arch']" --inner --max-chars 2000 path/to/file.xml
• Scan child nodes:
  • uv run --script <skill-dir>/scripts/cli.py children --xpath "//group" path/to/file.xml
  • uv run --script <skill-dir>/scripts/cli.py children --xpath "//group" --list --attrs path/to/file.xml
• Outline structure:
  • uv run --script <skill-dir>/scripts/cli.py outline --xpath "//record[@model='ir.ui.view']" --depth 3 path/to/file.xml
  • uv run --script <skill-dir>/scripts/cli.py outline --xpath "//record[@id='view_form']" --attr id --attr name path/to/file.xml
• Context around matches:
  • uv run --script <skill-dir>/scripts/cli.py context --xpath "//field[@name='arch']" --before 2 --after 6 path/to/file.xml
• Set attribute (dry-run + diff):
  • uv run --script <skill-dir>/scripts/cli.py set-attr --xpath "//field[@name='arch']" --name string --value my_label --diff path/to/file.xml
  • add --in-place to write
• Set text from file:
  • uv run --script <skill-dir>/scripts/cli.py set-text --xpath "//field[@name='arch']" --value-file snippet.xml --diff path/to/file.xml
• Insert XML fragment:
  • uv run --script <skill-dir>/scripts/cli.py insert --xpath "//group" --position inside-last --xml "<field name='x'/>" --diff --reformat-ok path/to/file.xml
• Delete nodes:
  • uv run --script <skill-dir>/scripts/cli.py delete --xpath "//field[@name='x']" --diff --reformat-ok path/to/file.xml

Workflow

• Inspect: select for match counts and sourcelines
• Read: show, children, outline, or context for subtree/structure scanning
• Dry-run: run mutating commands with --diff (no --in-place)
• Apply: add --in-place after diff looks tight
• Verify: spot-check with select or get

Tasks

• Inspect/select: use select, get, show, children, outline, and context for precise targeting
• Attribute edits: set-attr, del-attr
• Text edits: set-text with --value or --value-file
• Structural edits: insert, replace, delete with XPath
• Batch edits: pass multiple paths or globs (e.g., **/*.xml)

Guardrails

• Minimal diffs: set-attr, del-attr, and set-text are surgical and preserve formatting
• Structural edits: insert, replace, delete reserialize XML and can reformat; require --reformat-ok
• Large files: use --huge if parser complains
• Namespaces: pass --ns prefix=uri and use prefix:tag in XPath
• Indentation drift: use --indent on insert/replace if needed

Required follow-up reads

| Need | Read | When | | --- | --- | --- | | XPath/minimal-diff guidance | references/xml-surgeon.md | Complex selectors or formatting risk | | Internal command behavior | scripts/main.py, scripts/lib.py | Debugging the public CLI |