python ElementTree the text of element who has a child

Question

When I try to read a text of a element who has a child, it gives None:

See the xml (say test.xml):

<?xml version="1.0"?>
<data>
    <test><ref>MemoryRegion</ref> abcd</test>
</data>

and the python code that wants to read 'abcd':

import xml.etree.ElementTree as ET
tree = ET.parse('test.xml')
root = tree.getroot()
print root.find("test").text

When I run this python, it gives None, rather than abcd.

How can I read abcd under this condition?

Bearable

This was very annoying. It seams like 'abcd' is the text value of <test>. – Eldaelden

Answer 1

Use Element.tail attribute:

>>> import xml.etree.ElementTree as ET
>>> tree = ET.parse('test.xml')
>>> root = tree.getroot()
>>> print root.find(".//ref").tail
 abcd

Passementerie

Answer 2

ElementTree has a rather different view of XML that is more suited for nested data. .text is the data right after a start tag. .tail is the data right after an end tag. so you want:

print root.find('test/ref').tail

Warga