How to use the FILTERXML function
Author: Oscar Cronquist Article last updated on January 20, 2023
The FILTERXML function extracts specific values from XML content by using the given xpath. The function was introduced in 2013 and you need Excel 2013 or a newer version to use the FILTERXML function.
What's on this page
1. FILTERXML Function example
Formula in cell B3:
=FILTERXML(B3,"//title")
FILTERXML video
2. FILTERXML Function Syntax
FILTERXML(xml, xpath)
3. FILTERXML Function Arguments
| xml | Required. A value in XML format. |
| xpath | Required. A value in XPath format. |
- The FILTERXML returns a #VALUE! error if the XML is not valid.
- The FILTERXML returns a #VALUE! error if the XML contains a namespace with a prefix that is invalid.
4. How to extract XML attribute?
An XML element may contain an attribute, the following formula demonstrates how to extract a given attribute from XML data.
Formula in cell B6:
=FILTERXML(B3,"//NorthAmerica/@city")
5. How to import XML data?
- Select a destination cell.
- Go to tab "Developer" on the ribbon.
- Press with left mouse button on the "Import" button, a file dialog box appears.
- Press with mouse on an XML file to select it.
- Press with left mouse button on the "Open" button to import the file.
Here is what the example XML data looks like:
6. Put XML data in different columns based on XML tags?
Formula in cell B6:
=FILTERXML($B$3,"//"&B$5)
Explaining formula in cell B6
Step 1 - Concatenate column header to build xpath arg
"//"&B$5
becomes
"//"&"Europe"
and returns "//Europe"
Step 2 - Extract XML data
FILTERXML($B$3,"//"&B$5)
becomes
FILTERXML($B$3, "//Europe")
becomes
FILTERXML("<countries><Europe>France</Europe><Asia>China</Asia><Europe>Spain</Europe><Asia>Japan</Asia><Asia>Thailand</Asia><Africa>Kenya</Africa></countries>", "//Europe")
and returns {"France";"Spain"}.
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Functions in this article
Functions in 'Web' category
The FILTERXML function function is one of many functions in the 'Web' category.
Returns a URL-encoded string.
Extracts specific values from XML content by using the given xpath.
Inserts an image into cells.
Gets data from a web service on the Internet or Intranet.
Excel function categories
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Functions for backward compatibility with earlier Excel versions. Compatibility functions are replaced with newer functions with improved accuracy. Use the new functions if compatibility isn't required.
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Functions that let you get information from a cell, formatting, formula, worksheet, workbook, filepath, and other entitites.
Functions that let you return and manipulate logical values, and also control formula calculations based on logical expressions.
These functions let you sort, lookup, get external data like stock quotes, filter values based a condition or criteria, and get the relative position of a given value in a specific cell range. They also let you calculate row, column, and other properties of cell references.
You will find functions in this category that calculates random values, round numerical values, create sequential numbers, trigonometry, and more.
Calculate distributions, binomial distributions, exponential distribution, probabilities, variance, covariance, confidence interval, frequency, geometric mean, standard deviation, average, median, and other statistical metrics.
Functions that let you manipulate text values, substitute strings, find string in value, extract a substring in a string, convert characters to ANSI code among other functions.
Get data from the internet, extract data from an XML string and more.
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Allows you to filter data based on selected value , a given text, or other criteria. It also lets you filter existing data or move filtered values to a new location.
Lets you control what a user can type into a cell. It allows you to specifiy conditions and show a custom message if entered data is not valid.
Lets the user work more efficiently by showing a list that the user can select a value from. This lets you control what is shown in the list and is faster than typing into a cell.
Lets you name one or more cells, this makes it easier to find cells using the Name box, read and understand formulas containing names instead of cell references.
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An Excel feature that lets you visualize data in a graph.
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Lets you quickly summarize vast amounts of data in a very user-friendly way. This powerful Excel feature lets you then analyze, organize and categorize important data efficiently.
VBA stands for Visual Basic for Applications and is a computer programming language developed by Microsoft, it allows you to automate time-consuming tasks and create custom functions.
A program or subroutine built in VBA that anyone can create. Use the macro-recorder to quickly create your own VBA macros.
UDF stands for User Defined Functions and is custom built functions anyone can create.
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