I'm trying to parse XML for Android string files, here's an example:
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<resources xmlns:xliff="urn:oasis:names:tc:xliff:document:1.2">
<string name="string_android">Test with argument <xliff:g id="argument">%1s</xliff:g> here</string>
<string name="test_string_2">test 2</string>
</resources>
NOTE - the XML value within each tag is unique in that it can contain nested values like the xliff:g tags shown.
In my example code below, I'm unable to unpack the value within the tags in any form to get it in its entirity.
import kotlinx.serialization.Serializable
import kotlinx.serialization.builtins.serializer
import kotlinx.serialization.modules.SerializersModule
import nl.adaptivity.xmlutil.ExperimentalXmlUtilApi
import nl.adaptivity.xmlutil.serialization.DefaultXmlSerializationPolicy
import nl.adaptivity.xmlutil.serialization.ElementSerializer
import nl.adaptivity.xmlutil.serialization.NodeSerializer
import nl.adaptivity.xmlutil.serialization.XML
import nl.adaptivity.xmlutil.serialization.XmlElement
import nl.adaptivity.xmlutil.serialization.XmlSerialName
import nl.adaptivity.xmlutil.serialization.XmlValue
import org.w3c.dom.Element
import org.w3c.dom.Node
object TestXmlParse {
val example = """
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<resources xmlns:xliff="urn:oasis:names:tc:xliff:document:1.2">
<string name="string_android">Test with argument <xliff:g id="argument">%1s</xliff:g> here</string>
<string name="test_string_2">test 2</string>
</resources>
""".trimIndent()
@Serializable
@XmlSerialName("string")
data class StringTag(
@XmlElement(false)
val name: String,
@XmlValue
val node: List<@Polymorphic Any>,
)
@Serializable
@XmlSerialName("resources")
data class Resources(
val strings: List<StringTag>,
)
@OptIn(ExperimentalXmlUtilApi::class)
fun parseXml() {
val xml = XML(
serializersModule = SerializersModule {
polymorphic(Any::class, String::class, String.serializer())
polymorphic(Any::class, Node::class, NodeSerializer)
polymorphic(Any::class, Element::class, ElementSerializer)
},
) {
// Empty "unknown child" handler
policy = DefaultXmlSerializationPolicy(
pedantic = true,
unknownChildHandler = { _, _, _, _, _ -> emptyList() },
)
recommended {
autoPolymorphic = false
}
}
val resources = xml.decodeFromString(Resources.serializer(), example)
println(
resources
)
}
}
Test file to debug
import kotlin.test.Test
class TestXmlParseTest {
@Test
fun test() {
TestXmlParse.parseXml()
}
}
The line of focus above is val node: List<@Polymorphic Any> in the StringTag data class.
When it is val node: List<@Polymorphic Any>, I get this captured data model:

The problem above is on the first item with 2 values (called "node"). It captures the strings before and after the <xliff:g> tag, but not that tag itself.
When it is any of the following, I get the error below.
val node: List<Node>
val node: List<@Serializable(with = NodeSerializer::class) Node>
val node: Node
val element: Element
val element: List<Element>
val element: List<@Serializable(with = ElementSerializer::class) Element>
(all above using org.w3c.dom.Elementand import org.w3c.dom.Node)
kotlinx.serialization.SerializationException: Class 'kotlin.String' is not registered for polymorphic serialization in the scope of 'Node'.
To be registered automatically, class 'kotlin.String' has to be '@Serializable', and the base class 'Node' has to be sealed and '@Serializable'.
Alternatively, register the serializer for 'kotlin.String' explicitly in a corresponding SerializersModule.
Perhaps I'm missing something, or doing something wrong entirely? I just want to parse the value within the <string> tag on an Android strings file, capturing all items within.
I'm trying to parse XML for Android string files, here's an example:
NOTE - the XML value within each tag is unique in that it can contain nested values like the xliff:g tags shown.
In my example code below, I'm unable to unpack the value within the tags in any form to get it in its entirity.
Test file to debug
The line of focus above is
val node: List<@Polymorphic Any>in theStringTagdata class.When it is

val node: List<@Polymorphic Any>, I get this captured data model:The problem above is on the first item with 2 values (called "node"). It captures the strings before and after the
<xliff:g>tag, but not that tag itself.When it is any of the following, I get the error below.
val node: List<Node>val node: List<@Serializable(with = NodeSerializer::class) Node>val node: Nodeval element: Elementval element: List<Element>val element: List<@Serializable(with = ElementSerializer::class) Element>(all above using
org.w3c.dom.Elementandimport org.w3c.dom.Node)Perhaps I'm missing something, or doing something wrong entirely? I just want to parse the value within the
<string>tag on an Android strings file, capturing all items within.