for-each loop and blank values

Navy1991_1 · June 5th, 2008, 11:57 AM

If writing a for-each loop do you need to specify if there is no value (blank) do not return a value? In the XML sample below I have pair of artist that have values, however there is one that is blank. Do I need to account for the blank artist?

<painters>
<artist>
<Date>06032008</Date>
<name>Mr. Smith</name>
<item1>blue</item1>
<item2>red</item2>
</artist>
<artist>
<Date>06052008</Date>
<name>Mr. Jones</name>
<item1>blue</item1>
<item2>red</item2>
</artist>
<artist>
<Date></Date>
<name></name>
<item1></item1>
<item2></item2>
</artist>
</painters>

Martin Honnen · June 5th, 2008, 12:04 PM

It depends on what you want to output. Can you show us the output you want to generate with your stylesheet?
You could for instance use

Code:

<xsl:for-each select="/painters/artist[*[node()]]">

to ensure your for-each processes only those artist elements that have a non-empty child element.

--
Martin Honnen
Microsoft MVP - XML

Navy1991_1 · June 5th, 2008, 01:04 PM

06032008 Mr. Smith blue red
06052008 Mr. Jones blue red

Martin Honnen · June 6th, 2008, 08:24 AM

In that case you can use the approach I suggested in my previous response:

Code:

<xsl:for-each select="/painters/artist[*[node()]]">
  <xsl:for-each select="*">
    <xsl:value-of select="."/>
    <xsl:choose>
      <xsl:when test="position() != last()">
        <xsl:text> </xsl:text>
      </xsl:when>
      <xsl:otherwise>
        <xsl:text>#10;</xsl:text>
      </xsl:otherwise>
    </xsl:choose>
  </xsl:for-each>
</xsl:for-each>

--
Martin Honnen
Microsoft MVP - XML