ERROR while XML is accessed using JAXP API and DOM parser

Hi,

when i tried to parse the xml document using DOM parser from JAXP API,
I got an error...

org.xml.sax.SAXParseException: XML declaration may only begin entities.
at org.apache.crimson.parser.Parser2.fatal(Parser2.java:3182)
at org.apache.crimson.parser.Parser2.fatal(Parser2.java:3170)
at org.apache.crimson.parser.Parser2.maybePI(Parser2.java:966)
at org.apache.crimson.parser.Parser2.maybeMisc(Parser2.java:1092)
at org.apache.crimson.parser.Parser2.parseInternal(Parser2.java:487)
at org.apache.crimson.parser.Parser2.parse(Parser2.java:305)
at org.apache.crimson.parser.XMLReaderImpl.parse(XMLReaderImpl.java:442)

at org.apache.crimson.jaxp.DocumentBuilderImpl.parse(DocumentBuilderImpl
.java:185)
at javax.xml.parsers.DocumentBuilder.parse(DocumentBuilder.java:151)
at XMLBean.getCustInfo(XMLBean.java:34)
at XMLBean.main(XMLBean.java:122)


When I printed the line number out, it showed the line where my processing instruction of XML is coded(i.e.,<?xml version="1.0" ?>).
here it goes....

custinfo.xml
------------
<!-- Name: Srivalli Chavali
DateSubmited: 4/15/03
Purpose: XML file to store Customer information of VegDeliPlus-->

<!--sdfdf-->
<?xml version="1.0" ?>

<!-- DTD to define the language for VegDeliPlus customers -->
<!DOCTYPE custlist [
<!ELEMENT custlist (cust+)>
<!ELEMENT cust (name, amtowed, addr, numpeople)>
<!ELEMENT name (#PCDATA)>
<!ELEMENT amtowed (#PCDATA)>
<!ELEMENT addr (#PCDATA)>
<!ELEMENT numpeople (#PCDATA)>
<!ATTLIST cust credrating (1|2|3) #REQUIRED>
<!ATTLIST numpeople good (Yes|No) "No">
]>

<!-- VegDeliPlus Database as an XML file -->
<custlist>
<cust credrating="1">
<name>James Gosling</name>
<amtowed>$0.00</amtowed>
<addr>12 Java Lane</addr>
<numpeople>6</numpeople>
</cust>
<cust credrating="3">
<name>Ronda Smith</name>
<amtowed>$85.50</amtowed>
<addr>345 Rocky Rd.</addr>
<numpeople good="Yes">25</numpeople>
</cust>
<cust credrating="2">
<name>Larry Lake</name>
<amtowed>$255.85</amtowed>
<addr>249 Lakeview Blvd.</addr>
<numpeople good="Yes">112</numpeople>
</cust>
<cust credrating="1">
<name>Sally Snow</name>
<amtowed>$1,000.00</amtowed>
<addr>11 Snowbird Blvd.</addr>
<numpeople>19</numpeople>
</cust>
<cust credrating="2">
<name>Ron Padova</name>
<amtowed>$1,000.00</amtowed>
<addr>282 East 12th St.</addr>
<numpeople good="Yes">20</numpeople>
</cust>
<cust credrating="3">
<name>Sue Jones</name>
<amtowed></amtowed>
<addr>45 Ruler Rd.</addr>
<numpeople>4</numpeople>
</cust>
<cust credrating="1">
<name>Robert Trent</name>
<amtowed>$240.00</amtowed>
<addr>23 Golfway Ave.</addr>
<numpeople good="Yes">24</numpeople>
</cust>
<cust credrating="2">
<name>LiChing Wu</name>
<amtowed>$45.55</amtowed>
<addr>873 Richmond Rd.</addr>
<numpeople>13</numpeople>
</cust>
<cust credrating="2">
<name>Narasimhiah Patel</name>
<amtowed>$45.55</amtowed>
<addr>26 Oakview Rd.</addr>
<numpeople good="Yes">28</numpeople>
</cust>
<cust credrating="1">
<name>Rachel Carter</name>
<amtowed>$25.00</amtowed>
<addr>1122 Erieview Ave.</addr>
<numpeople>18</numpeople>
</cust>
<cust credrating="3">
<name>Tom Tally</name>
<amtowed>$0.00</amtowed>
<addr>25 TallyHo Rd.</addr>
<numpeople good="Yes">77</numpeople>
</cust>
</custlist>
----------------------------------------------------------------
I cannot understand whats wrong in it.
If I run my program removing the statement <?xml version="1.0" ?> from this custinfo.xml file, it WORKS FINE.
Can anyone please tell me what the problem in that statement is?

I think the line

HAS to be the first line. You have comments before it.

Oh! Great!
Thanks a lot, Nemi...its working!!!