prefix = qName.substring(0,qName.indexOf(':'));
//creates the starting ELEMENT node
//or a default ELEMENT node
if ( (_nodeStack.empty()) && (_startingNode == null)) {
_startingNode = new AnyNode(AnyNode.ELEMENT, localName, prefix, namespaceURI, null);
_node = _startingNode;
} else {
_node = new AnyNode(AnyNode.ELEMENT, localName, prefix, namespaceURI, null);
//push the node in the stack
_nodeStack.push(_node);
}
}