Adding encoding type when importing XML from URL

**L-Hype** · 04-03-2012, 11:49 PM

Hi All,
I am trying to import XML files that don't specify the encoding type in the header. The XML's can be imported correctly when the encoding attribute is set to ISO-8859-1, but without it I get errors that shut me down as soon as an unfamiliar character is found.

Unfortunately, there's nothing I can do to change the way the XML's are formed, and changing each of the XML's manually is impractical. I'm hoping to find a way to change the way Excel reads the XML, either as a Excel setting or with VBA. Failing that, I need a way to download the XML's from URL's, change them, and import them with limited (or no) action needed from the user.

Any ideas?

**Chippy** · 04-04-2012, 07:06 AM

Have a look at/search for XMLhttp and its SetRequestHeader method.

**L-Hype** · 04-06-2012, 06:22 PM

Thanks! I'll give it a look.

**L-Hype** · 04-09-2012, 09:25 PM

Here's an update (still no solution).

I've been trying various interfaces to get the XML data, including XMLHTTP, XMLHTTPRequest, and WinHTTP, but now I can't get through authentication. I have tried adding username and password to the appropriate .open "GET" requests, but it doesn't work, nor does .SetCredentials with WinHTTP. I have received an XML that tells me I failed authentication, and I can read it but I don't know if that means my encoding troubles are over, as the XML doesn't contain the problematic characters. Using these other methods has been a great learning experience, but I don't think the API allows them. That or I'm doing something wrong... which isn't too unlikely. I suspect AJAX is preferred, that or some kind of Forms Authentication.... In any case, I'm still in over my head. I would really appreciate any more advice anyone has for this situation.