Why can't I use xpath to parse nodes in the default namespace?

Question

I'm an XML newbie and I have an XML document (which I can't edit because it comes from somewhere else) but it has a root node like this:

<Configuration xmlns="http://schemas.mycomp.com/product/settings" version="2.0.0">

I'm trying to parse this document with msxml and xpath and I've done it successfully if I remove the xmlns attribute. For some reason, with this xmlns attribute in place, the document won't parse. I've attempted to set the msxml parse to recognise the document using:

m_pXMLDoc->setProperty( _bstr_t(L"AllowDocumentFunction"), _variant_t(true));   
m_pXMLDoc->setProperty( _bstr_t(L"AllowXsltScript"), _variant_t(true));
m_pXMLDoc->setProperty( _bstr_t(L"SelectionLanguage"), _variant_t(L"XPath"));   
m_pXMLDoc->setProperty( _bstr_t(L"SelectionNamespaces"), _variant_t(L"xmlns='http://schemas.mycomp.com/product/settings'"));

m_pXMLDoc->preserveWhiteSpace = VARIANT_FALSE;
m_pXMLDoc->resolveExternals = VARIANT_TRUE; 
m_pXMLDoc->validateOnParse = VARIANT_FALSE;

From reading around it looks like xpath only works on the "no name" namespace and this document sets the default namespace so that it's no longer "no name". Can I set the namespace that xpath uses using MSXML?

Hmm, I've noticed that if I edit the XML file and change the xmlns attribute to xmlns:x="schemas.mycomp.com/product/settings" then the document parses just fine. I guess it's something to do with the elements being in the default namespace that's causing me problems... — Benj
– Benj, Commented Jan 11, 2012 at 11:22
Don't forget to include x: in your XPath expression in this case. /x:Element will still match <Element xmlns="schemas.mycomp.com/product/settings">, while /Element will match two things: <Element> with a default namespace and <Element> with no namespace. — Thomas Weller
– Thomas Weller, Commented Jul 3, 2013 at 11:41

PeeWee2201 · Accepted Answer · 2012-01-11 12:13:01Z

2

From Microsoft : This behaviour is by design ...

See http://support.microsoft.com/kb/288147

Use prefixes with the namespaces when you specify the SelectionNamespaces property

answered Jan 11, 2012 at 12:13

PeeWee2201

1,5442 gold badges17 silver badges25 bronze badges

Sign up to request clarification or add additional context in comments.

1 Comment

Benj Over a year ago

Yes, I feared this was the case. Sadly not a great answer if you need to parse someone elses XML though :-(

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

Why can't I use xpath to parse nodes in the default namespace?

1 Answer 1

1 Comment

Your Answer

Hot Network Questions

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

1 Answer 1

1 Comment

Your Answer

Sign up or log in

Post as a guest

Related