in reply to Re^3: Parsing dodgy XML
in thread Parsing dodgy XML

They're the client; it's your job to make them happy. If they don't want to give you XML, they don't have to.

If you want to get paid, you have to deal with what you're given, not what you wish you were given.

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Re^5: Parsing dodgy XML
by bart (Canon) on Sep 21, 2006 at 06:26 UTC
    Tell them you must charge more to correct their mistakes in what is not quite XML. Or, which might sound better to them (but means the same), you give a discount when their XML is XML.

    There's a reason why the standard of XML is as intolerant to dodgy pseudo-XML, as it is: to enforce it to people in cases like this. Use that power. Point to the standard.

Re^5: Parsing dodgy XML
by codeacrobat (Chaplain) on Sep 20, 2006 at 21:19 UTC
    You can do so once, twice, maybe more. When things go bad it is always good to have stated "there is a risk". It is the clients job to decide to take the risk or not to take it. Clients don't know what they want. If you want to deliver real good work, you tell them what they might want and then go to work.