The encoding of XML documents

XML documents generated in or parsed from national data items must be encoded in Unicode UTF-16 in big-endian format, CCSID 1200.

For XML GENERATE statements, documents generated in alphanumeric data items must be encoded in Unicode UTF-8 (CCSID 1208) or one of the single-byte EBCDIC encodings listed in the table below. You can use any CCSID from that table in the ENCODING phrase of the XML GENERATE statement.

For XML PARSE statements, documents in alphanumeric data items must be encoded as follows:

• If XMLPARSE(XMLSS) is in effect:
  • If the RETURNING NATIONAL phrase is specified in the XML PARSE statement, in any EBCDIC or ASCII encoding that is supported by z/OS® Unicode Services for conversion to UTF-16
  • If the RETURNING NATIONAL phrase is not specified in the XML PARSE statement, in UTF-8 (CCSID 1208) or one of the single-byte EBCDIC encodings listed in the table below
• If XMLPARSE(COMPAT) is in effect: in one of the single-byte EBCDIC encodings listed in the table below

If XMLPARSE(XMLSS) is in effect, you can use any supported CCSID (as described above for XML PARSE) in the ENCODING phrase of the XML PARSE statement.