Accessing the default value of attributes in an XML file

[Marc A. Criley]

First off, I'm an experienced software developer but new to XML, so be gentle

I've put together a schema that defines optional attributes for some of the elements. Some of these attributes have default values defined for them in the schema.

XML files that employ that schema may of course then have entries that omit the default-valued attributes.

How, using XPath (or some other means?) do I query for the attribute value of those default-valued attributes that are not explicitly provided?

The software I'm working on needs to be portable, so I'm not using MSXML, instead Xerces and XAnal (so far).

Thanks for any assistance.

Marc A. Criley
Quadrus Corporation
www.quadruscorp.com

 

[Philippe Poulard]

First off, I'm an experienced software developer but new to XML, so be gentle

I've put together a schema that defines optional attributes for some of the elements. Some of these attributes have default values defined for them in the schema.

XML files that employ that schema may of course then have entries that omit the default-valued attributes.

How, using XPath (or some other means?) do I query for the attribute value of those default-valued attributes that are not explicitly provided?

It's impossible with XPath
However, it is possible with DOM :
Attr#getSpecified

The software I'm working on needs to be portable, so I'm not using MSXML, instead Xerces and XAnal (so far).

^^^^^ are you sure ? Xalan, maybe ?

Thanks for any assistance.

Marc A. Criley
Quadrus Corporation
www.quadruscorp.com

 

[Marc A. Criley]

It's impossible with XPath
However, it is possible with DOM :
Attr#getSpecified

Thanks for the guidance.
^^^^^ are you sure ? Xalan, maybe ?

Dyslexics of the world, UNTIE!

Marc