removing characters from php output in xml

Question

I have written a xml/php document that is pulling from a Magento Commerce database, to create the XML document with all of the items in it, so that Google's Shopping can import the items. Google's system is getting hung up on a item, I believe that this is due to the special characters. I want to strip those characters out of the output. Notice in the output that there is a couple of registered trademarks, and some quotes, and commas. I doubt the quotes or commas are the problem, I think it may be the trademarks.

Here is the output

<title>The FoamZall - Spray Foam Insulation Trimming Foam Saw - w/ Open Cell Blade</title>
<description>The FOAMZALL includes the toughest Milwaukee® brand heavy-duty orbital Sawzall® around, which has a custom coupling to secure a 36" long serrated blade intended for trimming 1/2 lb and 2 LB foam.  The 13 Amp, 120 Vac saw has a 1 1/4" stroke and can provide up to 3,000 strokes per minute.  Carry case is included.   </description>
<g:google_product_category>Business &amp; Industrial &gt; Construction</g:google_product_category>
<g:product_type>Spray Foam Parts &amp; Supplies &gt; Fusion AP Parts</g:product_type>
<link>http://sprayfoamsys.com/store/the-foamzall-spray-foam-insulation-trimming-saw-open-cell-blade.html</link>
<g:image_link>http://sprayfoamsys.com/store/media/catalog/product/f/o/foamzall.jpg</g:image_link>
<g:condition>new</g:condition>
<g:availability>in stock</g:availability>
<g:price>425.0000</g:price>
<g:brand></g:brand>
<g:mpn></g:mpn>
</item>
<item>

My Script is:

<?php echo '<?xml version="1.0" ?>'; ?>
<rss version="2.0" xmlns:g="http://base.google.com/ns/1.0" xmlns:c="http://www.base.google.com/cns/1.0">
<channel>
<title>Spray Foam Systems</title>
<link>http://www.sprayfoamsys.com/store/</link>
<description>Spray Foam Rigs, Spray Foam Equipment, Sprayfoam Parts and Supplies.</description>
<?php
$con = mysql_connect(REMOVED) or die(mysql_error());
    if (!$con)
        {
            die('Could not connect: ' . mysql_error());
        }
    mysql_select_db("sprayfoa_store", $con);

    $query = mysql_query("SELECT * FROM `catalog_product_flat_1` WHERE `visibility` = 4 ORDER BY entity_id asc")
    or die(mysql_error());
?>
<?php
    while($row = mysql_fetch_array($query))
        {
?>
<item>
<g:id><?php echo $row['entity_id']; ?></g:id>
<title><?php echo $row['name']; ?></title>
<description><?php echo (str_replace(array("\r\n", "\n"), ' ', $row['short_description'])); ?></description>
<g:google_product_category>Business &amp; Industrial &gt; Construction</g:google_product_category>
<g:product_type>Spray Foam Parts &amp; Supplies &gt; Fusion AP Parts</g:product_type>
<link>http://sprayfoamsys.com/store/<?php echo $row['url_path']; ?></link>
<g:image_link>http://sprayfoamsys.com/store/media/catalog/product<?php echo $row['small_image']; ?></g:image_link>
<g:condition>new</g:condition>
<g:availability>in stock</g:availability>
<g:price><?php echo $row['price']; ?></g:price>
<g:brand><?php $entity_id = $row['entity_id']; $query2 = mysql_query("SELECT * FROM `catalog_product_entity_varchar` WHERE entity_id = '$entity_id' AND attribute_id = '127'") or die(mysql_error()); while($row2 = mysql_fetch_array($query2)) { echo $row2['value']; } ?></g:brand>
<g:mpn><?php echo $row['sku']; ?></g:mpn>
</item>
<?php
}
mysql_close($con);
?>
</channel>
</rss>

Answer 1

I'm pretty sure any characters outside the 0-255 range should be encoded as &#___;.