The following code does not seem to work i xmlsetups. Its goal is to let part of the input disappear. \startxmlsetups pqr:initial \def\hidestart#1\hidestop{} \hidestart abc\hidestop % << not working \stopxmlsetups Why is the argument not eaten until the \hidestop, but only one letter (the a) consumed. See the error message: Use of \hidestart doesn't match its definition. \@@su:xam:initial ...1\hidestop {}\fi \hidestart a bc\hidestop Hans van der Meer