How to prevent HTML encoding for embedded expressions in XML Literals (VB.NET)?

Question

With the following code:

Dim x As System.Xml.Linq.XElement = _
<div>
<%= message.ToString() %>
</div>
Dim m = x.ToString()

...if message is HTML, then the < and > characters get converted to &lt; and &rt;.

How can I force it to skip this encoding?

Answer 1

You need to open the HTML snippit as an XML document and append the document node to the Div node you are creating.

If you want to add XML (or HTML) to an existing XML document then you have to add it as XML and not as text (cause that gets encoded).

Answer 2

What is the type of your message variable? If message is an XElement, then just leave off the .ToString call like this:

Dim x As System.Xml.Linq.XElement = _
    <div>
        <%= message %>
    </div>
Dim m = x.ToString()

If message is some other type (like StringBuilder), then do this:

Dim x As System.Xml.Linq.XElement = _
    <div>
        <%= XElement.Parse(message.ToString()) %>
    </div>
Dim m = x.ToString()