Professional JavaScript For Web Developers

Chapter 15
452
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);
}