Incrementing attribute value

Pankaj C · October 30th, 2007, 07:47 AM

Hi,

I've a very specific requirement in my style sheet, wherein I need to increment (lexical) the attribute values of particular element, for instance âbbaâ, âbbbâ, âbbcâ and so on. Let me try to explain with a sample. Below is how my markup looks like:

<chapter>
 <fm>
 <op>
 xxxx (The attribute value should be âbbaâ)
 </op>
 </fm>

 <body>
 <sect1>
 yyy (The attribute value should be âbbbâ)
 zzz (The attribute value should be âbbcâ)
 </sect1>
 </body>

 <bm>
 <summ>
 kkk (The attribute value should be âbbdâ)
 </summ>

 <end>
 ppp (The attribute value should be âbbeâ)
 </end>
 </bm>
</chapter>

Iâve tried to use count(//p[@type=âboxâ]) etc but that I can feel is not correct way of doing to get the desired results. I also cannot use the preceding-sibling/following-sibling sort of things, as the can occur anywhere in <fm>, <body> or <bm> parts or may be only in one part as many times.

I was thinking of using of counter sort of things to manipulate the data, but have no idea whether it is feasible in XSLT. Can anybody guide me in this regard or may let which part of XSLT tutorial I should look into to get this work for me.

Just to add, Iâve fair knowledge of XPath and using 1.0 version on MAC.

Thanks for guidance in advance.

Pankaj

samjudson · October 30th, 2007, 09:44 AM

You can't 'increment' values in XSLT, as XSLT is a side-effect-free programming language. There is usually another way of doing what you are trying to do however.

Depending on the format of your attributes you might get some luck out of the <xsl:number> instruction.

/- Sam Judson : Wrox Technical Editor -/

mhkay · October 30th, 2007, 02:11 PM

The solution to this depends on what exactly you mean by "for instance bba, bbb, bbc, bbd etc". Depending on exacly how prescriptive you are about this sequence, you may or may not be able to use xsl:number.

It's not clear to me whether you are showing your input or your desired output. Perhaps you want to copy the input to the output with the addition of these serial "numbers"? You can do this with an identity transform supplemented by a numbering rule: something like:

<xsl:template match="*">
 <xsl:copy>
 <xsl:copy-of select="@*"/>
 <xsl:apply-templates/>
 </xsl:copy>
</xsl:template>

<xsl:template match="p">
 <xsl:number level="any" format="a"/>
</xsl:template>

Michael Kay
http://www.saxonica.com/
Author, XSLT Programmer's Reference and XPath 2.0 Programmer's Reference

Pankaj C · October 31st, 2007, 05:29 AM

<xsl:attribute name="att">bb<xsl:number level="any" format="a"/></xsl:attribute>
is what I was looking for. I have given a thought of <xsl:number> but had doubt, of using it in <xsl:number>.

I would have given a try first before asking. Anyways, thanks a ton.

Pankaj

Pankaj C · October 31st, 2007, 05:40 AM

Apologies, I mean

I have given a thought of <xsl:number> but had doubt, of using it in <xsl:attribute>.

Pankaj