Re: [xsl] method='text' ... whitespace problems

["G. Ken Holman" <gkholman@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

At 2002-11-18 16:05 +0000, DPawson@xxxxxxxxxxx wrote:
> I'm having fun and games generating some plain text output.

Those are two of the words for that, yes.

> The indent is not giving any problems, but the newline certainly is.
> ...
> I'm looking for an explanation of what happens with output='text',
> within a template,

Nothing happens "within a template" for output="text" because the output 
interpretation only happens once the result tree is built.

The XML processor reading the XML instance of your stylesheet normalizes 
the operating system end of line sequences to be a simple 
 
character.  Hence you will never see a CR/LF pair from a MS* system.

> and for suggestions as to a definition of the nl entity
> which might suit either/both win32 + *nix environs.

I'm unaware of any that will do so because of rules of the XML processor.

When I parameterize my text-output exercise files for the operating system, 
I centralize the newline definition as follows:

  <!DOCTYPE xsl:stylesheet [<!ENTITY nl "&#xd;&#xa;">]>

and then use <xsl:text>&nl;</xsl:text> in my stylesheet.

Since it is a character entity and not an operating system end of line 
sequence, both characters remain untouched.

I'm pretty sure there are no guidelines for implementers to note the nature 
of the operating system end of line sequences during the serialization of 
text output files.  Hence I think you are out of luck for a system 
independent approach.

I hope this helps.

............ Ken


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