Alas, here I am again!

[hsfrey]

Is there a place I could look up more information on error messages, so that I don't have to pester you whenever I don't understand one?

Anyway, I now get the xmlparser to look at my cleaned up xml, but get the run-time error message: "An XML name was expected"

I don't know what it means by "XML name".

I don't get the error message when I use the parser on the test data given on the help page. I have every reason to believe that my XML is syntactically correct (It ran under the Java parser without complaint) but I've included it here for any doubters.

Could the parser be choking on all the comments? If so, what comment marker is acceptable?

Anyway, here is a printout of the string I passed to the parser.
When I copied it to show here, the newlines were not respected. I added a few at the beginning for clarity.

Thanks for any help.

Harvey

<!- Is an Assignment of Contractual Rights Valid? -> 
<rules> <!- Set rulesflag -> 
<rule> <!- Set ruleflag -> 
<lhs type="start">valid assignment</lhs> 
<!- set lhsflag, get expression, put it in templhsname, check if it's in PredTable. -> 
<!- if it is, retrieve it as lhs, if not set lhs to new PredNode. -> <op>AND</op> 
<!- get expression, check validity, insert in lhs using setOper -> <parms> 
<!- set parmsflag, get rl = new RuleList -> 
<pred>intent shown</pred> 
<!- set predflag, get expression, put it in temppredname, 
check if it's in PredTable. if it is, retrieve it as pn, if not set 
pn to new PredNode. Fill PredNode. Make a new RuleNode, 
fill it, and add to rl -> 
<pred>immediate transfer</pred> 
<pred>rights described</pred> 
<pred>proper notice</pred> 
<pred>writing satisfied</pred> 
<pred>NOT changes obligor's duty</pred> 
<pred>NOT future contract</pred> 
<pred>NOT locally illegal</pred> 
<pred>NOT valid anti assignment clause</pred> 
</parms> <!- Put the RuleList rl into PredNode lhs , turn off parmsflag. -> 
</rule> <!- turn off ruleflag -> 

<rule> 
<lhs>intent shown</lhs> 
<val>TRUE</val> <!-set valflag, get expression, check validity, 
insert in lhs using setTruth -> 
</rule> 

<rule> 
<lhs>future contract</lhs> 
<val>NO</val> 
</rule> 

<rule> 
<lhs>proper notice</lhs> 
<op>OR</op> 
<parms> 
<pred>proof shown</pred> 
<pred>NOT ucc9</pred> 
</parms> 
</rule> 

<rule> 
<lhs>writing satisfied</lhs> 
<op>OR</op> 
<parms> 
<pred>written</pred> 
<pred>nunr</pred> 
</parms> 
</rule> 

<rule> 
<lhs>nunr</lhs> 
<op>AND</op> 
<parms> 
<pred>NOT ucc9</pred> 
<pred>NOT real estate</pred> 
</parms> 
</rule> 

<rule> 
<lhs>changes obligor's duty</lhs> 
<op>OR</op> <parms> <pred>personal service of trust</pred> 
<pred>requirement or output contract</pred> <pred>materially 
vary risk</pred> <pred>impair chance of return 
performance</pred> </parms> </rule> <rule> <lhs>locally 
illegal</lhs> <op>OR</op> <parms> <pred>wages illegal</pred> 
<pred>pensions illegal</pred> <pred>alimony illegal</pred> 
<pred>personal injury damages illegal</pred> </parms> </rule> 
<rule> <lhs>wages illegal</lhs> <op>AND</op> <parms> 
<pred>assigning wages</pred> <pred>wages locally illegal</pred> 
</parms> </rule> <rule> <lhs>pensions illegal</lhs> 
<op>AND</op> <parms> <pred>assigning pensions</pred> 
<pred>pensions locally illegal</pred> </parms> </rule> <rule> 
<lhs>alimony illegal</lhs> <op>AND</op> <parms> 
<pred>assigning alimony</pred> <pred>alimony locally 
illegal</pred> </parms> </rule> <rule> <lhs>personal injury 
damages illegal</lhs> <op>AND</op> <parms> <pred>assigning 
personal injury damages</pred> <pred>personal injury damages 
locally illegal</pred> </parms> </rule> <rule> <lhs>valid anti 
assignment clause</lhs> <op>AND</op> <parms> <pred>anti 
assignment clause</pred> <pred>NOT anti assignment clause 
invalid</pred> </parms> </rule> <rule> <lhs>anti assignment 
clause invalid</lhs> <op>OR</op> <parms> <pred>ucc9</pred> 
<pred>assignor fully performed</pred> <pred>rights for total 
breach of contract</pred> <pred>benefit of obligor</pred> 
<pred>"contract may not be assigned"</pred> </parms> </rule> 
<rule> <lhs>ucc9</lhs> <op>AND</op> <parms> 
<pred>payments</pred> <pred>NOT non ucc9</pred> </parms> 
</rule> <rule> <lhs>non ucc9</lhs> <op>OR</op> <parms> 
<pred>future wages</pred> <pred>sale of business</pred> 
<pred>collection only</pred> <pred>assignee = delegatee</pred> 
<pred>claim from tort</pred> <pred>one acct for old debt</pred> 
</parms> </rule> <rule> <lhs>Valid assignment</lhs> 
<cmd>?</cmd> <!- get expression, initiate eval routine using it -> 
</rule> </rules> <!- go to search routine, which should list preds & 
ask which one to eval ->

Runtime Error in program 'ruleParser': xmlparser #accessor, allXml$
An XML name was expected

[Alyce]

When I encounter an error such as this, I build the program anew, one bit at a time. Try building the XML file a line or two at a time, so that you can isolate the part that generates the error. Run each version and when you hit the error, note which line(s) of XML were added.

[Jerry Muelver]

Alyce, as usual, is right. Start out working with a small, well-formed XML document. It's the document, not RB, that's causing the problems. See www.tizag.com/xmlTutorial/

As a quick fix check try adding this as your first two lines:
<?xml version="1.0" ?>
<HarveyDoc>

Then put this as your last line:
</HarveyDoc>

That might work. But in any event, you need to get your program working with a simple, valid XML doc before dragging the kitchen sink into it for parsing.