Yes, I am using XML::Simple as I am on a shared server so I can't install modules. I've been using for years for a few other things, and it has been less of a headache on more complex XML. It was supposed to be a Simple XML solution, I don't understand why it is being a pain on these small file sets.

I think XML::LibXML is also available, I will look at moving to that in the long term.

As for the short answer, I'm about to just read each line one at a time and regex out the XML to get what I need for this, since it is so small. I know that is not really the right answer, but it will serve the purpose this time.

"I have not failed 10,000 times. I have successfully found 10,000 ways that will not work." -- Thomas Edison

Thanks to everyone for their help and feedback.