G'day Ppeoc,

I started to write an XML::LibXML solution but got distracted (with real world stuff). In the meantime, you've updated your post and have possibly settled on an XML::Twig solution.

[Aside: Please don't update your posts without indicating what's changed - see "How do I change/delete my post?" for more details on this.]

Anyway, the code's written, and seems to do the type of thing you're after, so here it is. It is intended to be a guide only — you'll need to adapt it for your specific needs.

You gave no indication of the XML you're working with. I've dummied up 'pm_1148640_xml_parse.xml' for demonstration purposes:

<library>
    <category>
        <name>Fiction</name>
        <book>
            <title>Sci-Fi</title>
            <title>Detective</title>
        </book>
    </category>
    <category>
        <name>History</name>
        <book>
            <title>Modern</title>
            <title>Ancient</title>
        </book>
    </category>
</library>
[download]

Here's the code (pm_1148640_xml_parse.pl):

#!/usr/bin/env perl

use strict;
use warnings;

use XML::LibXML;

my $parser = XML::LibXML::->new();
my $doc = $parser->load_xml(location => 'pm_1148640_xml_parse.xml');

get_category($doc);

sub get_category {
    my ($doc) = @_;

    my @categories = $doc->findnodes('/library/category/name/text()');
    push @categories, 'Exit';
    my $selection = 0;
    print "Select a book category:\n";
    print ++$selection, ". $_\n" for @categories;

    my $choice = get_user_selection({ map { $_ => undef } 1 .. $select
+ion});
    return if $choice == $selection;

    get_book($doc, $categories[$choice - 1]);
}

sub get_book {
    my ($doc, $category) = @_;

    my $xpath = "/library/category[name=\"$category\"]/book/title/text
+()";
    my @books = $doc->findnodes($xpath);
    push @books, 'Back to Categories';
    my $selection = 0;
    print "Select a $category book:\n";
    print ++$selection, ". $_\n" for @books;

    my $choice = get_user_selection({ map { $_ => undef } 1 .. $select
+ion});
    if ($choice == $selection) {
        get_category($doc);
        return;
    }

    print "You selected the $category book: '$books[$choice - 1]'\n";
}

sub get_user_selection {
    my $valid_selection = shift;
    my $selection = '';

    while (1) {
        print 'Enter selection: ';
        chomp($selection = scalar <>);
        last if exists $valid_selection->{$selection};
        print "Invalid selection [$selection]\n";
    }

    return $selection;
}
[download]

And here's an example run:

$ pm_1148640_xml_parse.pl
Select a book category:
1. Fiction
2. History
3. Exit
Enter selection: 9
Invalid selection [9]
Enter selection: 1
Select a Fiction book:
1. Sci-Fi
2. Detective
3. Back to Categories
Enter selection: 3
Select a book category:
1. Fiction
2. History
3. Exit
Enter selection: 2
Select a History book:
1. Modern
2. Ancient
3. Back to Categories
Enter selection: 2
You selected the History book: 'Ancient'
[download]