XML Namespace Prefix Question

[Vaithianathan, Shankar (c)]

Guys,

I have a very basic Question on namespace prefixes when using an xpath
expression.

 

I have a document,

 

<foo:A xmlns:foo="urn:foo.org">

            <B>123</B>

            <C>456</C>

            <D>789</D>

</foo:A>

 

If an xpath = "foo:A/foo:C" is applied it doesn't return anything and
obviously it works for "//*/C". Does every element under A should come
with a namespace prefix "foo:" 

 

If the xml is structured as 

<A xmlns="urn:foo.org">

            <B xmlns:foo="urn:foo.org">123</B>

            <C xmlns:foo="urn:foo.org">456</C>

            <D xmlns:foo="urn:foo.org">789</D>

</foo:A>

 

The xpath = "//*/myfoo:C"  [myfoo is the prefix I wish to use while
doing the xpath which is passed on through a namespace prefix resolver]

 

Both are well-formed xml though. 

 

I am using JDK1.5 XPath API and a custom JAXP1.3 NameSpaceContext
implementation.

 

Tools like xmlspy give varied results which I guess they are trying to
be liberal.

 

Could some one explain what is wrong in the way the prefixes are
declared?

 

Thanks

Shankar