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Why are erroneous ENTITY declarations not caught in XML validation?

• From: "Costello, Roger L." <costello@mitre.org>
• To: "xml-dev@lists.xml.org" <xml-dev@lists.xml.org>
• Date: Tue, 23 Oct 2012 09:32:08 +0000

Hi Folks,

I have an ENTITY declaration prior to the root element:

-------------------------------------------------------
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<!DOCTYPE root [
<!ENTITY address "(&mailbox;|&group;)">
<!ELEMENT root (#PCDATA)>
]>
<root></root>
-------------------------------------------------------

Notice that the address ENTITY references two other ENTITIES, neither of which are present.

I validate the XML document and the parser (XERCES) reports that it is *valid*.

Why?

Now, if I try to *use* the address ENTITY inside <root>, then I get an error:

-------------------------------------------------------
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<!DOCTYPE root [
<!ENTITY address "(&mailbox;|&group;)">
<!ELEMENT root (#PCDATA)>
]>
<root>&address;</root>
-------------------------------------------------------

Why is the XML document valid when I don't use the address ENTITY, but invalid when I do use the address ENTITY?

Where is this issue discussed in the XML specification?

/Roger

• Follow-Ups:
  • Re: Why are erroneous ENTITY declarations not caught inXML validation?
    • From: David Carlisle <davidc@nag.co.uk>
  • Re: Why are erroneous ENTITY declarations not caught inXML validation?
    • From: "Christopher R. Maden" <crism@maden.org>