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ImportString["<mtext> </mtext>", {"MathML", "XMLElement"} ] 
XMLElement["mtext",{},{}]

while I'd expect:

XMLElement["mtext",{},{" "}]

It's more than inconvenient because:

ExportString[ XMLElement["mtext", {}, {}], "XML" ] 
"<mtext />"

when I need:

ExportString[ XMLElement["mtext", {}, {" "}], "XML" ] 
"<mtext> </mtext>"

Is this expected?

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    $\begingroup$ Have you tried ExportString[ImportString["<mtext> </mtext>", {"MathML", "XMLElement"}, "NormalizeWhitespace" -> False], "XML"]. "NormalizeWhitespace" set to false instead of the default Automatic. The less instructions given at Import or Export the more one gives control to WRI logic for Automatic expectations. Automagic. $\endgroup$ Commented Oct 20, 2015 at 14:13
  • $\begingroup$ @Hans nice, wasn't aware of that. Please consider posting an answer :) $\endgroup$ Commented Oct 20, 2015 at 14:19

1 Answer 1

Reset to default
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Try

ExportString[ImportString["<mtext> </mtext>", {"MathML", "XMLElement"}, "NormalizeWhitespace" -> False], "XML"]

From XML/tutorial/ImportingXML. I thought the default for "NormalizeWhitespace" was Automatic. However the documentation states that "True" is the default, where "all the whitespace inside an element is normalized (default)".

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  • $\begingroup$ I wouldn't say expected due to the fact that ImportString ref page contains no info about available options. $\endgroup$ Commented Oct 20, 2015 at 14:31
  • $\begingroup$ The ref/ImportString page contains a pointer to Import under Details. It would be nicer if WRI just simply reiterated the options under ImportString. $\endgroup$ Commented Oct 20, 2015 at 14:40
  • $\begingroup$ and where is this option mentioned on Import page? ;) $\endgroup$ Commented Oct 20, 2015 at 14:46
  • $\begingroup$ It is not. One would have to dig 4 levels into the Tutorial to get this information for "XML" format XML/tutorial/ImportingXML. I just meant the pointer note in the Details of ImportString "ImportString works just like Import, with the same element specifications and options." However, the way I got to this information was to type "NormalizeW*" in the Help. Just using prior knowledge of normalizing white space in SGML, XML, HTML with recollection that Mathematica has a "NormalizeWhitespace" option. I actually knew how to use it. But still searched for spelling. $\endgroup$ Commented Oct 20, 2015 at 15:04

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