Getting jQuery ajax and asp.net webmethod xml response to work -

i have asp.net webmethod returns xmldocument object. can call method using jquery ajax, can't seem function succeed (server side webmethod gets called correct parameters client side method fails 'undefined parser error').

to reproduce, asp.net c#:

[webmethod] public static xmldocument test(string name) {     xmldocument result = new xmldocument();     xmlelement root = result.createelement("data");     result.appendchild(root);      xmlelement element = result.createelement("anelement");     element.setattribute("name", name);     root.appendchild(element);      return result; } 

javascript:

function callfordata(name) {     $.ajax({         type: "post",         url: "appname.aspx/test",         data: "{'name': " + name+ "'}",         contenttype: "application/json; charset=utf-8",         datatype: "xml",         success: function (response) { parsexml(response); },         error: function (data, textstat, req) { alert(data + ' - ' + textstat + ' - ' + req); }     }); } 

if datatype: "xml" commented out (automatic) success function called data load of square brackets seem indicate empty json structure. want xml response can parse using jquery.

i think possibly need add format identification xml document aren't sure. can point out problem?

fixed adding

[system.web.script.services.scriptmethod(responseformat=system.web.script.services.responseformat.xml)] 

to web method.

credit riteshtandon23 in this thread