xml:space="preserve"

[mjbogusz]

Following code should work but it doesn't.

const xmlParser = require('xml2json');
const assert = require('assert');

const xml = '<test xml:space="preserve">   </test>'; // Three spaces
const jsObject = xmlParser.toJson(xml, { object: true });
assert.equal(jsObject.test, '   '); // Should be three spaces too

Instead, the returned object (jsObject) looks like this:

{ test: { 'xml:space': 'preserve', '$t': '' } }

xml2json: v0.10.0,
NodeJS: v6.4.0

[c4milo]

Try passing trim: false in the options.

[mjbogusz]

But I do want other elements to be trimmed - as far as I understand it, the point of this property is more or less to disable trimming in one element (and it's children).

And as I know that adding support for this might require quite complex code changes, for a temporary fix I'd suggest ignoring this property (treating <test xml:space="preserve"> </test> just like <test> </test>).

Moreover, passing trim: false yields following, also unsatisfying, result:

{ test: { 'xml:space': 'preserve', '$t': '   ' } }

[c4milo]

@akkenoth that's just not within the scope of this module. It translates to JSON every element, attribute and element value it finds in your xml.

[mjbogusz]

Even if it's part of the specification? If so, then this issue is indeed invalid.

Though I reported this issue (or possibly more like a feature request?) after already doing a simple workaround in my code more to simply notify about existence of such a quirk.

[c4milo]

@akkenoth I appreciate for letting us know about this detail. I spent a little bit more of time and you are right. I'm happy to review and merge any patches if you want to contribute them.