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XML DOM

Because the XML DOM is part of Mozilla’s JavaScript implementation, it is possible to add a

loadXML()

method. The actual class for the XML DOM is called

Document

, so adding a new method is as easy as

using the

prototype

object:

Document.prototype.loadXML = function (sXml) {

//function body

};

Then, use the

DOMParser

to create a new XML DOM:

Document.prototype.loadXML = function (sXml) {

var oParser = new DOMParser();

var oXmlDom = oParser.parseFromString(sXml, “text/xml”);

//...

};

Next, the original document must be emptied of its contents. You can do this by using a

while

loop and

removing all the document’s child nodes:

Document.prototype.loadXML = function (sXml) {

var oParser = new DOMParser();

var oXmlDom = oParser.parseFromString(sXml, “text/xml”);

while (this.firstChild) {

this.removeChild(this.firstChild);

}

//...

};

Remember, because this function is a method, the

this

keyword refers to the XML DOM object. After all

the children have been removed, all the children of

oXmlDom

must be imported into the document (using

importNode()

) and added as children (using

appendChild()

Document.prototype.loadXML = function (sXml) {

var oParser = new DOMParser();

var oXmlDom = oParser.parseFromString(sXml, “text/xml”);

while (this.firstChild) {

this.removeChild(this.firstChild);

}

for (var i=0; i < oXmlDom.childNodes.length; i++) {

var oNewNode = this.importNode(oXmlDom.childNodes[i], true);

this.appendChild(oNewNode);

}

};

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