XML Sitemap & Bad Code

[alrockn]

I've been creating sitemaps with XML Sitemap Generator, and have been downloading them to edit on my pc.  The sitemaps work fine when viewing in a browser, but when I download and open in Dreamweaver, the urls don't work when I cut and paste them in the Firefox URL bar.  I notice the codes are different.  For example, an "&" is produced like this..."&".  Extra characters are inserted, producing the error.

I was wondering if this is normal, because as I said, the map works fine when viewing online.

[alrockn]

Thanks guys! Upon further research what's happening is "Entity Escaping", where symbols have to use a code...ie & = &, so it's all good.

http://www.sitemaps.org/protocol.html

[Martijn_Scheijbeler]

It's probably normal within Dreamweaver, however a browser will see the & probably like a & so that won't be a problem for Google I'd guess if you want to submit your sitemap to the search engines.

[OlegKorneitchouk]

Dreamweaver does funky stuff when you go from visual to code. Try opening the xml sitemap in notepad and copying/pasting from there and see if you get the same problem.

But based on my experience with that site, you should be fine.