Placing a PDF graphic into an existing XML hierarchy?

Question

I have an existing XML hierarchy that has a picture element that looks like this:
<picture href=""></picture>
which is already placed in a TextFrame.
I'd like to place a PDF graphic at the location of this element, in essence updating it.
I'm able to update the href attribute with the correct filename, but this doesn't create a placed graphic AFAICT.
I can place a graphic in my TextFrame, but don't understand how to specify this <picture> element as its location.
Any pointers to example code, or hints/tips?
Greatly appreciated!
Charles

Answer 1

Oh, right. Did we forget to tell you that trying to use XML in InDesign is usually a bad idea and that you could do much better without it?
Anywhohowwhichwhywhere...
In keeping with that theme, XML doesn't really come into play. If you have a rectangular frame rect and a filename filename and you want to place  filename in the rect then you just use: rect.place(filename);
So in your case, it's just about defining the two. I guess:
var rect, filename;
rect = app.documents[0].selection[ROW].associatedXMLElement.
    xmlElements[COL].xmlElements[0].xmlElements[0];
filename = new File(rect.xmlAttributes[0].value);
rect.place(filename);
Of course, if your filename is really a URL you'll have a spot of trouble there, maybe.
And you might be better off using XPath, i.e. .evaluteXPathExpression("//picture") to get your rectangle.
And what if href= isn't the first attribute of the <picture/> tag?
I suppose that perhaps you should consider using the .placeIntoFrame() and .placeXML() methods of the XMLElement class. I suspect you'll be sorry if you try, but go ahead :-).