XML normalization for fragmented placeholders in Word documents.

Microsoft Word often fragments placeholders across multiple XML runs and text elements due to spell-checking, grammar-checking, formatting changes, or editing history. This module normalizes the XML so every {{...}} token sits inside a single <w:t> element, without merging runs.

The whole token is moved into the <w:t> where it starts, and the pieces of it are removed from the elements that follow. Text outside the token stays in its original run, so its formatting, attributes and any non-text run content (tabs, breaks, symbols, fields) are untouched. The token takes the formatting of the run it starts in, which is how Word itself treats a selection.

Zero-width markers that Word scatters between runs (proofing errors, bookmarks, comment and permission ranges) do not interrupt a token. Runs nested in paragraph-level containers such as hyperlinks, tracked insertions, smart tags and content controls are normalized within their container.

Example

Fragmented placeholder:

<w:r><w:rPr><w:b/></w:rPr><w:t>Hello {{</w:t></w:r>
<w:proofErr w:type="gramStart"/>
<w:r><w:t>person.first</w:t></w:r>
<w:proofErr w:type="gramEnd"/>
<w:r><w:t>_name}}, how are you?</w:t></w:r>

After normalization:

<w:r><w:rPr><w:b/></w:rPr><w:t>Hello {{person.first_name}}</w:t></w:r>
<w:proofErr w:type="gramStart"/>
<w:proofErr w:type="gramEnd"/>
<w:r><w:t>, how are you?</w:t></w:r>

Usage

{:ok, xml_doc} = Ootempl.Xml.parse(xml_string)
normalized_doc = Ootempl.Xml.Normalizer.normalize(xml_doc)
{:ok, output} = Ootempl.Xml.serialize(normalized_doc)