# Auto-insert data into a DITA XML file > **Note: Specialist technique** > > This tutorial generates DITA XML topics from data with a Python script. It is useful when you maintain DITA content whose product data (names, versions) changes often; the same approach for reStructuredText is covered in [automatically insert data into a reStructuredText file](https://docs.redaction-technique.org/en/tutorials/auto-insert-data-restructuredtext/). ## Objective We want to automate the generation of the following DITA file: ```xml Products and versions

Dianthus

Geum

Prunus

 ``` 1. Install the following programs and libraries: ```console $ sudo apt install libxml2-dev libxslt1-dev python3-lxml ``` 2. Create the following Python script `populate-xml.py`: ```python #!/usr/bin/python3 # coding: utf8 from lxml import etree root = etree.Element('topic') root.set('id', 'produits-et-versions') title = etree.SubElement(root, 'title') title.text = "Produits et versions" topic = etree.SubElement(root, 'body') products = ['dianthus', 'geum', 'prunus'] versions = ['1.0', '1.5', '2.3'] for p in products: P = str.capitalize(p) product = etree.SubElement(topic, 'p') product.text = P list = etree.SubElement(topic, 'ul') for v in versions: version = etree.SubElement(list, 'li') version.text = v try: with open('modele.dita', 'w') as file: file.write('\n') file.write('''\n''') file.write(etree.tostring(root, pretty_print=True).decode('utf-8')) except IOError: print('Erreur d\'écriture') exit(1) ``` 3. Make the script executable, then run it: ```console $ chmod +x populate-xml.py $ ./populate-xml.py ``` The `modele.dita` file is created and contains the desired data. This approach minimizes the risk of errors and reduces the effort involved in updating. ## Related articles - [Auto-insert data into a reStructuredText file](https://docs.redaction-technique.org/en/tutorials/auto-insert-data-restructuredtext/) - [Auto-insert SQL data into a reStructuredText file](https://docs.redaction-technique.org/en/tutorials/auto-insert-sql-data-restructuredtext/) --- Source: https://docs.redaction-technique.org/en/tutorials/auto-insert-data-dita-xml/