> I have a couple of question about DOM. Under what conditions
> can you have a Node with a null ownerDocument?
Only when the Node is itself a Document (an annoying special
case, IMHO).
> Also, how can
> you transfer ownership of a Node to another document?
Never under DOM Level 1.
> Since you can't ever insert a DocumentFragment itself into a
> document, it doesn't make sense to me for a DocumentFragment
> to have an "owner" document.
Being owned by a Document is not the same as being accessible from
the Document by tree walking. A Node once created is always owned
by its ownerDocument whether it is currently in the tree or not.
> It would make sense to me to be able to "cut" some nodes
> out of a document, add them to a DocumentFragment (in which
> case their ownerDocument becomes null), and then
> subsequently "paste" them, possibly into another document,
> at which point they would have an ownerDocument again.
Level 1 can't cope with moving Nodes between Documents at all.
> If I can't transfer ownership of nodes this way, I don't see
> how you could build a cut and paste editor.
You can't. Wait for a higher DOM level or roll your own.
> Another related problem occurs when you have a server
> application that may deliver DOM objects other that whole
> documents to a remote client.
Same answer.
Note: There is a specialized DOM mailing list: www-dom@w3.org.
-- John Cowan http://www.ccil.org/~cowan cowan@ccil.org You tollerday donsk? N. You tolkatiff scowegian? Nn. You spigotty anglease? Nnn. You phonio saxo? Nnnn. Clear all so! 'Tis a Jute.... (Finnegans Wake 16.5)