Java: Writing a DOM to an XML file (formatting issues)

Vhaerun picture Vhaerun · Oct 2, 2008 · Viewed 33.8k times · Source

I'm using org.w3c XML API to open an existing XML file. I'm removing some nodes , and I'm adding others instead.

The problem is that the new nodes that are added are written one after the other, with no newline and no indentation what so ever. While it's true that the XML file is valid , it is very hard for a human to examine it.

Is there anyway to add indentation , or at least a newline after each node?

Answer

Chris Jester-Young picture Chris Jester-Young · Oct 2, 2008

I'm assuming that you're using a Transformer to do the actual writing (to a StreamResult). In which case, do this before you call transform:

transformer.setOutputProperty(OutputKeys.INDENT, "yes");
transformer.setOutputProperty("{http://xml.apache.org/xslt}indent-amount", "2");