Subject: Re: Designs for XSLT functions (Was: Re: [xsl] RE: syntax sugar for call-template) From: Jeni Tennison <mail@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> Date: Tue, 20 Feb 2001 09:24:42 +0000 |
Hi, I think that the discussions that we're having are very useful in throwing up the issues involved in authoring extension functions in XSLT. However, I'm concerned that we're losing focus a little and would like to explicitly state a few assumptions that I think we should be working under. As always, if you disagree with these assumptions or if you would like others to be added, then do pipe up. 1. There are three sets of extensions that we could be talking about: (a) extensions to XSLT 1.0 (b) extensions to XSLT 1.1 (c) extensions to XSLT 2.0 I think that we should be addressing (a) and (b) and not even thinking about XSLT 2.0 as yet. In fact, I think we should address (a) now, (b) immediately after we've done that and (c) at some far distant time when we've all recovered a bit and it's a little clearer what XSLT 2.0 and XPath 2.0 are going to look like. So, let's limit ourselves (for now) to extensions to XSLT 1.0. This is a bit of a change 'cos I was talking about xsl:script before, but I think it will simplify some of the discussion. If we are limited to XSLT 1.0 then there are certain things that we cannot do. In particular, we, as extension designers, can't make major changes to XPath such as introducing conditional (test ? true : false) paths or a new way of passing arguments to functions. We are limited to creating extension functions and extension elements. It's not because these ideas aren't great - they are! - but because XSLT limits what we can change. 2. I'm persuaded by Steve's observation that static invocation is very different from dynamic invocation and that dynamic invocation is something that could be applied to functions (and indeed XPaths) across the board. I think that we should focus the discussion now on static invocation, and address dynamic invocation once we've got that out of the way. So, the order I'm suggesting to focus discussions is: 1. how to define extension functions in XSLT 1.0 2. how to statically invoke extension functions in XSLT 1.0 3. how to dynamically invoke extension functions (+ other things?) in XSLT 1.0 4. how to define extension functions in XSLT 1.1 I'll summarise the proposals and design questions that have come out so far for 1. in one of my following emails. Cheers, Jeni --- Jeni Tennison http://www.jenitennison.com/ XSL-List info and archive: http://www.mulberrytech.com/xsl/xsl-list
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