def collapse(element)
        hash = get_attributes(element)

        if element.has_elements?
          element.each_element {|child| merge_element!(hash, child) }
          merge_texts!(hash, element) unless empty_content?(element)
          hash
        else
          merge_texts!(hash, element)
        end
      end
def collapse(element)
        hash = get_attributes(element)

        if element.has_elements?
          element.each_element {|child| merge_element!(hash, child) }
          merge_texts!(hash, element) unless empty_content?(element)
          hash
        else
          merge_texts!(hash, element)
        end
      end
Actually converts an XML document element into a data structure.

 element::
   The document element to be collapsed.