Loading of somefile.xml: xmlParseCharRef: invalid xmlChar value 11

Question

I'm trying to import an XML file but there is a character that is not not being accepted by PHP.

The only non-standard characters I am seeing are the @ symbol and some encoded characters < for < > for > and & for &. Does XML have a hard time understanding any of these?

Answer 1

In an XML document you should always encode the following characters to ensure a proper parsing:

• < should be encoded as <
• > should be encoded as >
• & should be encoded as &
• ' should be encoded as '
• " should be encoded as "

Answer 2

Remember to check whether the XML header of the document indicates

<?xml version="1.1" ?>

instead of

<?xml version="1.0" ?>

The former supports a wider character set than the latter. But remember that char(0) is always invalid.

See also this answer from user keshlam.