add a way to toggle auto-formatting for specific sections, e.g. with <!-- @formatter:off/on -->

[rhoehener]

For example:

<!-- @formatter:off -->
    <dependency> <groupId>my.group</groupId> <artifactId>my.artifact1</artifactId> <version>1.1.1</version> </dependency>
    <dependency> <groupId>my.group</groupId> <artifactId>my.artifact2</artifactId> <version>2.2.2</version> </dependency>
    <dependency> <groupId>my.group</groupId> <artifactId>my.artifact3</artifactId> <version>3.3.3</version> </dependency>
    <dependency> <groupId>my.group</groupId> <artifactId>my.artifact4</artifactId> <version>4.4.4</version> </dependency>
<!-- @formatter:on -->

[laeubi]

I think a Processing Instruction seems most suitable when it comes to XML documents instead of a comment.

<?formatter off?>
    <dependency> <groupId>my.group</groupId> <artifactId>my.artifact1</artifactId> <version>1.1.1</version> </dependency>
    <dependency> <groupId>my.group</groupId> <artifactId>my.artifact2</artifactId> <version>2.2.2</version> </dependency>
    <dependency> <groupId>my.group</groupId> <artifactId>my.artifact3</artifactId> <version>3.3.3</version> </dependency>
    <dependency> <groupId>my.group</groupId> <artifactId>my.artifact4</artifactId> <version>4.4.4</version> </dependency>
<?formatter on?>