Unable to Parse ampersand while converting XML String to Document

soumodip_m · March 28, 2013, 1:23pm

Hello,
I have an XML string as Input to a service.
The XML contains a string which has ‘&’ [ampersand] in it.
Example: Engineering & Management Services

I am converting this XML String to Node (using pub.xml:xmlStringToXMLNode) and then to Document ( using pub.xml:xmlNodeToDocument).

While converting to Document, I am getting the below error:

com.wm.app.b2b.server.ServiceException: [ISC.0042.9332] Malformed entity reference: & Management Services
…
…
…

I have tried using encoding = UTF-8 and UTF-16 but got the same results.

For debugging purpose, when I change the “&” to “&” in the source XML string then it works perfectly, but as a solution this cannot be taken, as no change in source XML is allowed.

Any suggestion for this solution is really appreciated.

Thanks

Vikas_Gupta · March 28, 2013, 3:06pm

Hi Soumodip,
In the xsd of this xml for this particular field you can define accepted special character. Once you define then it should not throw this error.

Regards,
Vikas

Niteesh_Rao2 · March 28, 2013, 4:10pm

Hi Soumodip,

The above scenario is an invalid xml character according to XML 1.0 Spec, so if possible tell the source to send with a valid html character(&amp as you mentioned).
If not set the below watt property to disable validation.
watt.server.xml.enforceEntityRef=false

My $.02,
Niteesh

reamon · March 29, 2013, 12:59am

The source MUST change the XML to convert & (and other specific characters used for markup) to the proper entity character. E.g. change & and &. It is not valid XML otherwise and there is nothing that you should do on your side to accomodate that invalid XML.

reamon · March 29, 2013, 1:00am

I would strongly advise against using this setting. You should tell the source that they MUST produce valid XML.

soumodip_m · April 1, 2013, 2:21pm

Thanks All for your valuable feedback & suggestions.

sakthi_vel · March 23, 2015, 10:33am

Hi All,

I m also facing the same error in my code .Source is sending the XML with &.
As per nitesh i set the below property,

watt.server.xml.enforceEntityRef=false

But still getting the same error.Source is not able to correct this.Since webMethods needs to allow this special charaters in the xml.Any one please suggest.

Mahesh_K_Sreenivas · March 23, 2015, 11:52am

Pass the xml string to find and replace ‘&’ to ‘amp’ ‘and’

sakthi_vel · March 23, 2015, 12:34pm

Hi Mahesh,

Thanks for your info.

Is it possible to accept the special characters without changing the source XML format?

Regards,
Sakthi

Mahesh_K_Sreenivas · March 23, 2015, 1:08pm

According to me watt.server.xml.enforceEntityRef=false setting should have fixed your problem. Did you reboot the Is after giving this setting.

Mahesh_K_Sreenivas · March 23, 2015, 1:11pm

Option 3: Use the pub.string:HTMLEncode pass your input xml string to this service first and then process it further.

sakthi_vel · March 23, 2015, 1:12pm

Yes restarted.But still facing same issue…

sakthi_vel · March 23, 2015, 1:20pm

yea.i tried that,but it looks like whole xml format got changed.i m getting the error while converting XML to node service ,since it is not able to recognize the ‘&’ .so it is failing.

Mahesh_K_Sreenivas · March 23, 2015, 1:22pm

Option 3: Use the pub.string:HTMLEncode pass your input xml string to this service first and then process it further.

Let me know your results.

Mahesh_K_Sreenivas · March 23, 2015, 1:24pm

Attach your xml file I will see that is the issue. Talk to you soon.

sakthi_vel · March 23, 2015, 2:58pm

Hi Mahesh,

Here is the sample XML for you,

Arun & Kumar Suman & Kumar

Error occuring when it tries to convert XML node to document .

and Currently we are using the Version 7.1.2

Regards,
Sakthi

Mahesh_K_Sreenivas · March 23, 2015, 4:36pm

You have not read and understood my earlier post :lol:

Map the xml data to string replace service and replace & with

& amp ; (no spaces)

Map the value of string replace to xml string to node and then node to document.

Or before passing your xml data to xml string to node repalce & with amp or and.

sakthi_vel · March 23, 2015, 4:51pm

Hi Mahesh,

I already did that ,it is passing the node to document service without any error,But looks like document getting generated as empty and also it is not an understandable format,
and as you said we unable to replace the & with & as source is only sending the XML data with ‘&’

However we have to accept special character & from source in any case without changing the XML.

Mahesh_K_Sreenivas · March 23, 2015, 5:45pm

how do you receive the xml string in webMethods?

I have to check other alternate options and let you know. I remember doing this in the past projects. Stay tuned!

sakthi_vel · March 24, 2015, 4:18am

Hi Mahesh,

we are receiving the XML via MQ.

Regards,
Sakthi