Introduction
XML parsing error: not well-formed (invalid token)
Location: line number 1, column 2
The XML Parsing Error: not well-formed error usually indicates that your XML file is not formatted correctly. For example, the following XML file is not well-formed because the < character is used in an element name instead of a < character:
<name>widget</name>
To fix this error, simply replace the < character with a < character in your XML file.
What is an XML Parsing Error?
XML parsing errors occur when the XML file being read by the application is not well-formed. This means that the XML file is not structured correctly and cannot be parsed by the application. XML parsing errors can be caused by a number of factors, including incorrect encoding, incorrect markup, or invalid characters.
How to Fix an XML Parsing Error
An XML parsing error can be caused by a number of things. In most cases, it is caused by an error in the XML code. Sometimes, it can be caused by an encoding issue. Let’s take a look at how to fix an XML parsing error.
Check the XML File for Errors
The most common cause of an XML parsing error is incorrect encoding. If your XML file is not encoded correctly, the parser will not be able to understand it and generate the error.
To check your file for encoding errors:
- open the XML file in a text editor such as Notepad++
- go to the “Encoding” menu and make sure “UTF-8” is selected
- if “UTF-8” is not an option, select “Convert to UTF-8” from the same menu
- save the file and try to parse it again
If this doesn’t fix the problem, there may be something wrong with the structure of your XML file. An XML file must have a single root element that contains all of the other elements. If your XML file does not have a root element, or if it has multiple root elements, you will get an error when you try to parse it.
Edit the XML File
The best way to fix an XML parsing error is to edit the XML file directly. This can be done using a text editor such as Notepad or WordPad. Simply open the file in the editor and look for any errors. Once you have located the error, you can correct it and save the file.
Try a Different XML File
If you’re trying to open an XML file that was created in a different program, try opening it in a text editor like Notepad first. This will help you determine if the XML file is formatted correctly. If it’s not, the file might not open in Excel at all, or you might see error messages.
You can also try using a different XML parser. If you’re using Microsoft Excel, try using the Open XML SDK instead of MSXML.
Conclusion
This error can be caused by a number of things, but the most common cause is that the XML file being parsed is not well-formed. This means that it does not conform to the rules of XML, and is therefore not able to be parsed by an XML parser.
There are a few ways to fix this error, but the most common way is to simply fix the errors in the XML file itself. This can be done by hand, or using an XML editor. Once the errors are fixed, the file should be able to be parsed without problem.
If you are not able to fix the errors in the XML file, there are a few other options available. One option is to use an alternative XML parser, such as Xerces-C++ or Expat. Another option is to use a tool such as xmllint to try and repair the XML file. However, this is not always 100% successful, so it is usually best to try and fix the errors in the original XML file if at all possible.