Encode/decode string for XML transfer

[SteveBee]

Do we have a built-in function that will handle code like this, in the attached image/zip?

(Note: I can't post the code directly, because it causes an Internal Server Error/500)

TIA
Steve

 

[kanaida]

StringUtils has some Url Encode and Decode functions.
Just pass it the one with the funny html chars to the decoder and it becomes plain text.
Then to pass it in say an http request, encode it.

In vb.net or C# there is a way to do the same. I would avoid parsing those special chars yourself. You're going to miss some and get a crash by not using built in functionality cause there's a ton:
http://www.dotnetperls.com/encode-html-string

 

[Erel]

The XML library should decode those entities for you automatically.

 

[SteveBee]

The XML library should decode those entities for you automatically.

Which XML library?
Do you mean the wrapper for the parser?

In view of the fact that I'm constructing/deconstructing SOAP wrappers myself, I thought I might have to pass through these encode/decode functions.

 

[SteveBee]

StringUtils has some Url Encode and Decode functions.

No, they're not the right ones.
When using encoding, they produce stuff like "....%3e+..." etc., for use in URLs.

What's required is HtmlEncoding, where "&" becomes "&"

 

[SteveBee]

In view of the fact that I'm constructing/deconstructing SOAP wrappers myself, I thought I might have to pass through these encode/decode functions.

Erel - And indeed I do..

Take an example where I'm compiling an HTTP request string, creating an HTTP request with parameters (input to sub as a Map):

   For i = 0 To parameters.Size -1
      XML = XML & "<" & parameters.GetKeyAt(i) & ">" & parameters.GetValueAt(i) & "</" & parameters.GetKeyAt(i) & ">" 
   Next

If one of my text parameters has the value
"More & more this won't work"

Then the XML string is well screwed! <g>

 

[Erel]

The XML library takes care of decoding the string during parsing.
When you build a request you will need to encode the string.
If your text is not expected to include "]]>" then you can use CDATA instead of escaping the string:

<![CDATA[your text & <>><<>   ]]>

 

[SteveBee]

The XML library takes care of decoding the string during parsing.
e]

This is *not* parsing that I'm talking about.

Including my sample text in the XML of an HTTP Request produces a "Bad Request" error. (Stands to reason that it would!)

What's needed is HtmlEncode ( as in ASP.NET Server object). Doesn't exist? Ok , I'll manage it.

 

[kanaida]

StringUtils does that encoding like i said, encodes and decodes.

That's precisely what I use for making http requests where I have to send text and make sure that it's accepted properly

html encoded values have things like %3D etc... in place of regular characters.
It just looks for these special chars, and replaces them with garbled looking text, usually with a % sign in front.

are you just encoding the values or ALL of the entire request?

 

[SteveBee]

As I already said, StringUtils contains UrlEncode/UrlDecode, which is useless with XML.

I'm coding what I need (cf. Extensible Markup Language (XML) 1.0 (Third Edition) et al)

 

[robh]

This is *not* parsing that I'm talking about.

Including my sample text in the XML of an HTTP Request produces a "Bad Request" error. (Stands to reason that it would!)

What's needed is HtmlEncode ( as in ASP.NET Server object). Doesn't exist? Ok , I'll manage it.

Hi,

I'm also running into the same problems with ampersands in my xml request, did you solve this encoding issue in the end?

Thanks

 

[Erel]

How are you building the request? You should encode the ampersand if you are building it manually.