XMLDocument SelectNodes hangs if called through COM

[Karel Kral]

Hello,
I have created simple COM service in .NET. COM is accessed from another
not NET application by late binding call.

And the problem:
If I call NetComClass.Hel lo from another .NET code, all works fine. But
when calling from COM, the program hangs at line nodeList =
root.SelectNode s("/bookstore/book"). CPU is utilized 100%. Briefly:
XmlDocument.Sel ectNodes call hangs EVERY TIME when selected nodes count
is greater than 0. I have attached debugger to calling process, I have
spend many hour on this problem, but without any result.

This is a test program to simplify the problem with SelectNode from more
complex part of application. The behaviour is the same.

Does anybody know, where the problem is?

***** script *****
WScript.StdOut. Write("Press Enter")
WScript.StdIn.R ead(0)
strTemp = WScript.StdIn.R eadLine()
Set Obj = CreateObject("A nete.TestCom.Ne tComClass")
Obj.Hello()

** test dll ***
Imports System.Diagnost ics
Imports System.Xml
Imports System

Namespace Anete.TestCOM

<ComClass(NetCo mClass.ClassId, NetComClass.Int erfaceId,
NetComClass.Eve ntsId)_
Public Class NetComClass

#Region "COM GUIDs"
' These GUIDs provide the COM identity for this class
' and its COM interfaces. If you change them, existing
' clients will no longer be able to access the class.
Public Const ClassId As String =
"a1fe8f7b-aee7-4db7-9e49-7a4a10c6a03d"
Public Const InterfaceId As String =
"0a8dc583-7f23-4523-9f05-70e35c4dc2de"
Public Const EventsId As String =
"93e01224-a3ad-418c-8fba-1b781914f289"
#End Region

' A creatable COM class must have a Public Sub New()
' with no parameters, otherwise, the class will not be
' registered in the COM registry and cannot be created
' via CreateObject.
Public Sub New()
MyBase.New()
Trace.Write("Ne w")
End Sub

Public Sub Hello(ByVal baseDir As String)
' Create the XmlDocument.
Dim doc As XmlDocument = New XmlDocument()
doc.Load(baseDi r + "\" + "booksort.x ml")

Dim book As XmlNode
Dim nodeList As XmlNodeList
Dim root As XmlNode = doc.DocumentEle ment

' on this line COM hangs
nodeList = root.SelectNode s("/bookstore/book")
End Sub

End Class

End Namespace
<?xml version='1.0'?>
<bookstore>
<book genre="novel" style="hardcove r">
<title>The Handmaid's Tale</title>
<author>
<first-name>Margaret</first-name>
<last-name>Atwood</last-name>
</author>
<price>19.95</price>
</book>
<book genre="novel" style="other">
<title>The Poisonwood Bible</title>
<author>
<first-name>Barbara</first-name>
<last-name>Kingsolver </last-name>
</author>
<price>11.99</price>
</book>
</bookstore>

Karel

--
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Environment: VB.NET, VS2005 Pro, XP Pro/P4 3GHz, 2GB RAM
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Karel Kral, developer
ANETE, s.r.o.
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