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Hi there,

While working on GlideAjax from the client, the often seen method is using getXML (hopefully not getXMLWait, though that's another topic). I'm actually wondering why?! I prefer using getXMLAnswer. You might ask yourself now, why?! The reason very simple: getXMLAnswer is slightly easier to write and getXML returns a whole XML Document while getXMLAnswer only returns an Answer which is far more efficient.

Usage

Here is an example of how you would use getXMLAnswer Client-side:

Here is an example of how you would use getXML Client side:

Again, why getXMLAnswer vs getXML

In the above pictures, you might have already noticed: getXMLAnswer returns the Answer and that's it. getXML still the Answer needs to be parsed. getXMLAnswer is far more efficient looking at it this way.

Far more efficient

getXMLAnswer

To make it more visual. Let's open the JavaScript Executor Client-Side (in Chrome: CTRL + SHIFT + J). And execute below code:

var ga = new GlideAjax('callerUtilsAjax');
ga.addParam('sysparm_name', 'getComputer');
ga.addParam('sysparm_caller', g_form.getValue('called_id'));
ga.getXMLAnswer(_handleResponse);

function _handleResponse(answer) {

    console.log(answer);

}

If we open the Chrome Console (F12), we would see:

getXML

Now let's perform the same, though for getXML. Execute below code in the JavaScript Executor:

var ga = new GlideAjax('callerUtilsAjax');
ga.addParam('sysparm_name', 'getComputer');
ga.addParam('sysparm_caller', g_form.getValue('called_id'));
ga.getXML(_handleResponse);

function _handleResponse(response) {

    console.log(response);

}

If we open the Chrome Console, we would see:

Result

As you can see in above result pictures, getXMLAnswer only retrieves the Answer which we are actually after. getXML retrieves the whole XML document. In most cases, we are not interested in the whole XML document, though only in the Answer.

Using getXMLAnswer, a little bit easier to write, and far more efficient in what is getting returned! So please when working with GlideAjax Client-side, reconsider using getXMLAnswer instead of getXML.

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And that's it actually. Hope you like it. If any questions or remarks, let me know!

Kind regards,

Mark Roethof

ServiceNow Technical Consultant @ Paphos Group---

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