A method and computer-readable medium are provided for selectively importing and exporting data in an electronic document. An import application program interface (API) may be implemented to import content from a hierarchically structured document, such an XML file. The import API works in conjunction with a parser to scan the document and extract content from selected elements, nodes, attributes, and text. The import API also utilizes a callback component for processing the extracted content. An export API may also be implemented to export data to create a hierarchically structured document, such as an XML file. The export API works in conjunction with a writer to receive data and export the data as elements, nodes, attributes, and text in the hierarchically structured document.