Cannot use a prefix with an empty namespace exception

[NeilL]

I'm trying to create an XML document that can be opened in Excel. I have some
simple code that ... eventually does the following

elem = _doc.CreateElem ent("Style");
elem.SetAttribu te("ss:ID","Def ault");
elem.SetAttribu te("ss:Name","N ormal");
parentElem.Appe ndChild(elem);

to add a "Style" item with 2 attributes. My problem is that when I do a
Save on the XML document I get an Attribute exception "Cannot use a prefix
with an empty namespace". So (dumb question I'm sure) but I can't figure out
how to make this work.

I've tried playing with the NamespaceManage r as in the following thinking
that might have to have the prefix set in the namespace first.. no difference.

XmlNamespaceMan ager nsmgr = new XmlNamespaceMan ager(_doc.NameT able)
nsmgr.AddNamesp ace(String.Empt y,"urn:schema s-microsoft-com:office:spre adsheet");
nsmgr.AddNamesp ace("o","urn:sc hemas-microsoft-com:office:offi ce");
nsmgr.AddNamesp ace("x","urn:sc hemas-microsoft-com:office:exce l");
nsmgr.AddNamesp ace("ss","urn:s chemas-microsoft-com:office:spre adsheet"
); nsmgr.AddNamesp ace("html","htt p://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40");

Also, I can seem to set the attributes in this way for the document element
node

elem = _doc.CreateElem ent("Workbook") ;
elem.SetAttribu te("xmlns","urn :schemas-microsoft-com:office:spre adsheet");
elem.SetAttribu te("xmlns:o","u rn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:offi ce");
elem.SetAttribu te("xmlns:x","u rn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:exce l");
elem.SetAttribu te("xmlns:ss"," urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:spre adsheet");
elem.SetAttribu te("xmlns:html" ,"http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40");
_doc.AppendChil d(elem);

So, after spending much time looking (and being confused by) what I found in
documentation and online I'm hoping somone can point me to a simple (but
complete) example of how this should be done or can point out what I'm
missing.

Thanks
--
Neil

[Martin Honnen]

NeilL wrote:

I'm trying to create an XML document that can be opened in Excel. I have some
simple code that ... eventually does the following

elem = _doc.CreateElem ent("Style");
elem.SetAttribu te("ss:ID","Def ault");

You probably want to do the following:
XmlAttribute attribute = doc.CreateAttri bute("ss:ID",
"urn:schema s-microsoft-com:office:spre adsheet");
attribute.Value = "Default";
elem.SetAttribu teNode(attribut e);

That way the attribute is created in the proper namespace.

--

Martin Honnen --- MVP XML
http://JavaScript.FAQTs.com/