Nested XML into comboBox

Question

Well as stupid as this sounds I can populate a datagrid from
a dynamic xml source(ASP) using HTTPservice but a basic lack of
understanding is preventing me from using this data in a comboBox
Below is my application source that works for populating the
datagrid in it, but when the data is used in the comboBox as it's
dataprovider the value is "[object][object]" Ive tried a bunch of
stuff but I think im conceptualy misunderstanding something about
retreiving nested values...
--MY BROKEN EXAMPLE---
--XML-output-by-asp-document--------
<product>
<category>Tile</category>
<name>Angelic Peach</name>
</product>
<product>
<category>Tile</category>
<name>Cosmo</name>
</product>
<product>
<category>Tile</category>
<name>Durva</name>
</product>
<product>
<category>Tile</category>
<name>Isosilis</name>
</product>
<product>
<category>Tile</category>
<name>Magaloth</name>
</product>
<product>
<category>Tile</category>
<name>Trunklin</name>
</product>
<product>
<category>Tile</category>
<name>Googolfletch</name>
</product>
<product>
<category>Tile</category>
<name>Moskurbelf</name>
</product>
<product>
<category>Tile</category>
<name>DoChoaKoa</name>
</product>
---products-component-for-use-in-main-application---
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<mx:Canvas xmlns:mx="
http://www.adobe.com/2006/mxml"
width="400" height="300"
creationComplete="this.productStream.send();">
<mx:Script>
<![CDATA[
import mx.utils.ArrayUtil;
import mx.utils.XMLUtil
//var urlPath="
http://localhost/rogerwilko/AndeanStone/xml.asp";
function xmlRequest():void {
// Cancel all previous pending calls.
productStream.cancel();
var params:Object = new Object();
params.func = 'products';
productStream.send(params);
]]>
</mx:Script>
<mx:HTTPService id="productStream"
url="
http://localhost/rogerwilko/AndeanStone/xml.asp"/>
<mx:Label text="Select A Product Category" top="0"
left="0"/>
<mx:ComboBox id="prodCatList"
dataProvider="{mx.utils.ArrayUtil.toArray(this.productStream.lastResult.product)}"
width="200" left="0" top="20" cornerRadius="3" fillAlphas="[0.5,
0.5]" themeColor="#00ff00" alpha="0.49">
</mx:ComboBox>
<mx:DataGrid id="prodList"
dataProvider="{mx.utils.ArrayUtil.toArray(this.productStream.lastResult.product)}"
columnWidth="200" width="200" left="0" top="55">
<mx:columns>
<mx:DataGridColumn headerText="{prodCatList.value}"
dataField="name"/>
</mx:columns>
</mx:DataGrid>
</mx:Canvas>
Thanks in advance for any help you can provide me
leo

Answer 1

You will need to specify either a labelField or
labelFunction. You can use a labelField if the value you want to
show in the combo box is a first level property of the item.
If the data you want to display is deeper in the item object,
and you need to "dot down" to get it use a labelFunction.
HTTPService resultFormat defaults to Object. I have never
been comfortable about the way Flex converts xml into objects, so I
always use e4x. This choice affects the structure of your item
objects, and therefore the way you need to access the item objects
properties.
Try labelField, anif that doesn't work use a labelFunction.
Note, you can debug the labelFunction quite handily.
Tracy