further updates

lib/core/common.py

@@ -44,6 +44,7 @@ from subprocess import Popen as execute
 from tempfile import NamedTemporaryFile
 from tempfile import mkstemp
 from xml.etree import ElementTree as ET
+from xml.dom import minidom
 from xml.sax import parse
 
 from extra.cloak.cloak import decloak
@@ -1218,6 +1219,7 @@ def getConsoleWidth(default=80):
     return width if width else default
 
 def parseXmlFile(xmlFile, handler):
+    checkFile(xmlFile)  
     xfile = codecs.open(xmlFile, 'rb', conf.dataEncoding)
     content = xfile.read()
     stream = StringIO(content)
@@ -1225,6 +1227,13 @@ def parseXmlFile(xmlFile, handler):
     stream.close()
     xfile.close()
 
+def readXmlFile(xmlFile):
+    checkFile(xmlFile)  
+    xfile = codecs.open(xmlFile, 'r', conf.dataEncoding)
+    retVal = minidom.parse(xfile).documentElement
+    xfile.close()
+    return retVal
+
 def calculateDeltaSeconds(start, epsilon=0.05):
     """
     Returns elapsed time from start till now (including expected