How to Resolve 'Data at the root level is invalid' Error When Parsing XML in a WiX Installer?

Parsing XML in WiX Installer with Xml.LoadData Issue

In attempts to parse XML within a WiX installer, the error "Data at the root level is invalid. Line 1, position 1" is encountered. The underlying XML contains a valid structure, as shown below:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<Errors></Errors>

1. Identifying the Invisible Character

The issue arises from a hidden character, likely BOM (Byte Order Mark), that appears at the beginning of the XML. This character is not visible in the text editor but can disrupt XML parsing.

2. Resolving the Issue

To resolve this, we can utilize a code snippet that checks for the BOM character and removes it if present:

string _byteOrderMarkUtf8 = Encoding.UTF8.GetString(Encoding.UTF8.GetPreamble());
if (xml.StartsWith(_byteOrderMarkUtf8))
{
    xml = xml.Remove(0, _byteOrderMarkUtf8.Length);
}

3. Alternative Approach

An alternative approach, as suggested by another user, is to remove the entire first line, although it is less precise than the above method.

Conclusion

By removing the invisible BOM character from the XML, the parsing error can be resolved, allowing the XML to be successfully parsed and its contents processed.

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