xpath query with backslashes return empty - excel

Question

I am trying to select a single MSXML2 node in excel using XPath predicates. I am able to select it just fine when I supply a string without backslashes. But as soon as I try with a file path string, the expression returns nothing.
Here is my XML:
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8" standalone="yes"?>
<Directory>
<Document>
<Path/>
<Status/>
<Notes/>
</Document>
<Document>
<Path>C:\Users\Ivelin\Desktop\Workspace\Requests\File.xlsm</Path>
<Status>Started</Status>
<Notes/></Document>
<Document>
<Path>TEST</Path>
<Status>Started</Status>
<Notes/>
</Document>
</Directory>
This works:
Dim Stat As IXMLDOMNode
Dim strPath
strPath = "/Directory/Document[Path='TEST']/Status/text()"
MsgBox (strPath)
Set Stat = XDoc.SelectSingleNode(strPath)
MsgBox (Stat.NodeValue)
This returns null:
Dim Stat As IXMLDOMNode
Dim strPath
strPath = "/Directory/Document[Path='C:\Users\Ivelin\Desktop\Workspace\Requests\File.xlsm']/Status/text()"
MsgBox (strPath)
Set Stat = XDoc.SelectSingleNode(strPath)
MsgBox (Stat.NodeValue)
I tried different suggestions, double backslashes etc. but no luck. Since I am interested in file names/paths, I don't really have other option, but to use backslashes.
Any pointers on how to solve this are welcome.

Answer 1

I see nothing wrong with your xpath. Perhaps the error lies elsewhere. I used the following loading your xml from file; no problem.
Option Explicit
Public Sub test()
Dim xmlDoc As Object, item As Object
Set xmlDoc = CreateObject("MSXML2.DOMDocument") 'New MSXML2.DOMDocument60
With xmlDoc
.validateOnParse = True
.setProperty "SelectionLanguage", "XPath"
.async = False
If Not .Load("C:\Users\User\Desktop\Test.xml") Then
Err.Raise .parseError.ErrorCode, , .parseError.reason
End If
End With
Dim path As String
path = "/Directory/Document[Path='C:\Users\Ivelin\Desktop\Workspace\Requests\File.xlsm']/Status/text()"
Set item = xmlDoc.SelectSingleNode(path)
Debug.Print item.Text
End Sub