How do you continue parsing even when expected elements are missing from xml file

[zeee]

Hi,

I have an XML file that can have a varying structure. For example in the chunk below the <subtrade> element has a subelement called <creditCurveFull>. However, <creditCurveFull> may be missing from the next <subtrade> element and reappear in the next <subtrade> element and so on.

Currently, my code just bombs out if it does not see the element that it is expecting to parse i.e. <creditCurveFull>. How do I deal with this so that my code continues to parse the rest of the document even if the elements that it is expecting to see are missing?

code is attached.

xml chunk
-----------

<book>
<riskGroup>GCPIG</riskGroup>
<summitBook>GCPIG</summitBook>
<desk>GCP_LN</desk>
- <counterparty>
<cptyId>DB-LN-CDTLEM</cptyId>
<cptyIdLong>Deutsche Bank AG, London</cptyIdLong>
- <trade>
<tradeId>C414287M</tradeId>
- <subtrade>
<primitiveTrade>1</primitiveTrade>
<analyticsProductType>DEFAULTSWAP</analyticsProductType>
<assetClass>BUCOMK</assetClass>
<ccy>USD</ccy>
<maturityDate>2004-03-19</maturityDate>
<effectiveDate>2003-03-19</effectiveDate>
<tradeDate>2003-03-19</tradeDate>
<notional>2000000.00</notional>
<notionalCurrency>USD</notionalCurrency>
<creditCurveFull>BUMIPUTRA COMMERCE BANK BHD</creditCurveFull>
<countryOfIssuer>Malaysia</countryOfIssuer>
<sector>BANKING</sector>
<buySell>S</buySell>
<interestRate>0.0065</interestRate>
<productType>DEFSWAP</productType>
<payFreq>Quarterly</payFreq>
- <reportcollection>
- <report>
<reportName>PRICE_CARRY_TODAY</reportName>
- <riskPoint>
<value>-4952.002523</value>
</riskPoint>
</report>
</reportcollection>
</subtrade>
</trade>
</counterparty>