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Accurate line and column numbers for elements and attributes in Java

• From: "Klotz, Leigh" <Leigh.Klotz@x...>
• To: <xml-dev@l...>
• Date: Fri, 6 Jun 2008 09:10:08 -0700

I'm developing an XML representation for a templating system which can
report errors at both parse and at execution time.

The existing system does a good job of reporting input file line numbers
on its element- and attribute-like constructs, and I'd like to provide
that same functionality with the XML representation.

Most SAX2 implementations (including the default one with recent Sun
Java systems) offer start and end line numbers of tags, but provide only
the ending column number of element content.

While I'm able to make use of this information, the most critical need
for column numbers comes in attribute values, so that errors in
attribute-value template expressions can be reported with column numbers
accurate in the original input stream.  SAX2 is no help here, as the
attributes spring forth fully formed as if from Zeus's forehead.

I've taken a look at Piccolo, which has a commented-out set of column
number info (on elements only), and at Micahel Kay's suggestion of using
the Saxon AugmentedSource (
http://www.nabble.com/-xml-dev--Line-number-of-a-node-to7990605.html#a79
90605 ) but again this provides only line numbers, not column numbers,
and not for attributes.

Does anyone have experience or recommendations for a non-validating,
namespace-aware XML parser in Java which supports or can easily be made
to support accurate beginning line and column numbers of both elements
and attributes (and maybe text)?  The solution needs to be released
under a BSD license.

Thank you,
Leigh.

• Follow-Ups:
  • Re: Accurate line and column numbers for elements and attributesin Java
    • From: John Snelson <john.snelson@O...>