Re: [xsl] "SQL distinct" like applying of templates

["M. David Peterson" <m.david@xxxxxxxxxx>]

news@xxxxxxxxxxx wrote:

Sounds like a perfect time to visit JeniTennison.com and learn about 
grouping using a variety of methods, the one in particular that you will 
need to focus on involves using the key element and key function coupled 
with the generate-id() function to compare the nodes of a resulting 
node-set() to see if they are the first in the resulting list of 
elements with the same value....

I would start at the beginning of her site though and spend a good hour 
or two getting a feel for how things are layed out and for her style of 
teaching.  Jeni is one of the most thorough teachers you will ever 
encounter and stands right next to Dr. Michael Kay, David Carlisle, et. 
Al. as far as her understanding and expertise of both the language and 
the technique involved in creating well thought through (and therefore 
extremely robust) solutions that perform the desired task in the most 
efficient manner possible. 

If you still have questions after running through her grouping tutorials 
then I can assure you that any of the members of this list with the 
proper knowledge will be more than happy to help you further... again, 
the site is http://www.jenitennison.com/  .. click on "Jeni's XSLT 
Pages" and look through the directory for "Grouping" related 
tutorials... the time you spend there now will return to you a hundred 
fold in future XSLT development as you will have more than an 
understanding of how to do the grouping of distinct elements as Jeni 
will help you understand the foundation of the prescribed solution and 
as such help you understand other areas to apply this knowledge as well.

Another GREAT site is Dave Pawsons XSLT FAQ... a well organized and code 
heavy site in which he has been indexing the solutions developed by 
members of this list since its inception over 5 years ago... you can 
find the FAQ from the main entry point at http://dpawson.co.uk/

And I will not have done my duty as a student of the master if I dont 
mention Dr. Kays developers reference... if you dont already have a copy 
visit 
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0764543814/qid=1099489823/sr=2-3/ref=pd_ka_b_2_3/104-2547459-4054318 
and pick up a copy of XSLT 2nd Edition to start... XSLT 2.0 (the third 
edition of his XSLT titles) is out now but it seems you are in need of 
XSLT 1.0 info and this first one is the correct title for 1.0 based 
transformations.

Best of luck to you!

<M:D/>

> I have a list, with many elements having equal names. The values of the
> items are strings.
> I want to select each different string exactly one time. Just like in SQL
> while using the "distinct" option.
>
> Example:
> <list>
> 	<item>string1</item>
> 	<item>string2</item>
> 	<item>string2</item>
> 	<item>string3</item>
> </list>
>
> I want to get the following list, omitting the second node with the value
> "String2".
> string1
> string2
> string3
>
>
> Is this possible woth XSLT, and how?
>
> thanks a lot!
>
> jan