xsl:variable question

tieme · July 2nd, 2009, 03:02 AM

I am trying to use xsl:variable to clean up my code a bit, but I can't quite get it to work how I want it to.

The code is pretty ugly due to huge xPath expressions (main reason I want to use variables) so I'll just show you the code with the long paths changed to short ones.

I am looking for a more concise way to get the functionality of this code:

Code:

<xsl:if text="count(foo2/bar2[foo/bar = 'CNTY1' or foo/bar = 'CNTY2']) = 0">
    <!-- code here -->
</xsl:if>

Code:

<xsl:variable name="countyPath" select="'foo/bar'" /> 

<xsl:variable name="allCountyPath" select="$countyPath = 'CNTY1' or $countyPath = 'CNTY2'/>

.
.
.

<xsl:if test="count(foo2/bar2[allCountyPath]) = 0">
    <!-- code here -->
</xsl:if>

I've tried removing the inner single quotes from the select attribute on the countyPath variable but it doesn't seem to help. Even though there are counties there, it seems to return 0.

Any ideas on where to go from here?

Edit:Sorry for the generic title, was going to try to make it more descriptive but I can't seem to edit it.

Thanks!

John

mhkay · July 2nd, 2009, 04:02 AM

First get rid of the inner quotes.

A variable holds a value (in this case, a set of nodes), it doesn't hold a path expression. When you write <xsl:variable name="x" select="foo/bar"/>, it evaluates foo/bar in the current context to return a set of nodes. You seem to be under the incorrect impression that the value of the variable will be a path expression that is evaluated in the context where it is used.

In XSLT 2.0, you can write f/b[foo/bar = ('C1', 'C2')]. In XSLT 1.0, you can write f/b[foo/bar[. = 'C1' or . = 'C2']].

tieme · July 2nd, 2009, 04:35 AM

Michael,

Thanks for the help! It is exactly the information I was looking for. In my defense, the W3Schools page does not indicate that xsl:variable is generally used to hold a set of nodes, and their only example uses it to hold a string (hence the inner quotes). I think I need to purchase your book...

John

mhkay · July 2nd, 2009, 04:43 AM

I find w3schools a really good place when I need to be reminded of half-forgotten syntax details, but a pretty poor place for learning new concepts. Yes - get yourself a good book!