Attribute value normalization

[MURATA Makoto]

While translating the XML specification, I find that I do not understand 
the attribute normalization mechanism of XML.

I made an example XML document (shown below).  I used the latest version 
of expat, Lark, Aelfred, xp, and MSXML.  I used DemoHandler of SAX to 
invoke Lark, Aelfred, and xp.

xp says that the type of the attribute "a" is CDATA.  MSXML reports a 
fatal error.  Aelfred says that the attribute value is always "test test".  
Lark and expat normalize some but not all.  Which one is correct? 

<?xml version="1.0"?>
<!DOCTYPE test 
[
<!ELEMENT test (#PCDATA|test)*>
<!ATTLIST test 
	a NMTOKENS #IMPLIED>
<!ENTITY D "&#xD;"> 
<!ENTITY A "&#xA;">
<!ENTITY DA "&#xD;&#xA;">  ]>
<test>
<test a="

test

test

"/>
<test a="&D;&A;&D;&A;test&D;&A;&D;&A;test&D;&A;&D;&A;"/>
<test a="&DA;&DA;test&DA;&DA;test&DA;&DA;"/>
<test a="&#xD;&#xA;&#xD;&#xA;test&#xD;&#xA;&#xD;&#xA;test&#xD;&#xA;&#xD;&#xA;"/>
<test a="&#xD;&#xD;test&#xD;&#xD;test&#xD;&#xD;"/>
<test a="&#xA;&#xA;test&#xA;&#xA;test&#xA;&#xA;"/>
</test>

Makoto
 
Fuji Xerox Information Systems
 
Tel: +81-44-812-7230   Fax: +81-44-812-7231
E-mail: murata at apsdc.ksp.fujixerox.co.jp

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