Re: [xsl] Re: Re: Increment/decrement a variable in XSL

Subject: Re: [xsl] Re: Re: Increment/decrement a variable in XSL
From: Petr Cimprich <petr@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: Thu, 04 Apr 2002 14:41:28 +0200
Dimitre Novatchev wrote:

While I'm not a fan of EXSL, I feel offended for them -- they never
intended to propose extension functions for incrementing an
xsl:variable -- or am I wrong Jeny?


Frankly, I'm not sure about intentions of EXSLTers, but since both WD 1.1 and 2.0 introduce an additional type of external object to be used with extensions, the idea of mutable variable isn't so surprising to me. xsl:variable can either be bound to an external object with one or more mutable properties or you don't need xsl:variable at all. Nobody speaks of incrementing an xsl:variable.


Incrementing a variable is not a non-XSLT problem due to two reasons:

1. It is not "non-XSLT" XSLT -- programmers write nice programs while
still being able to have the right values in the right xsl:variables


Speaking of intentions, is it what XSLT has been intended for?


I'm not advocating extensions or mutable variables/properties. My point is that there may be situations, where the extension approach can be more convenient than recursive calls of templates or other solutions, such as data preprocessing. Depends on what are priorities.



2. It is not a problem.


A friend of mine says: Never say a problem, say a challenge. He's right :)



On should first learn XSLT, and only after achieving some experience and understanding try to avoid raising non-existing problems.

Remember: if you consider the inability to increment a xsl:variable a
problem, this means 100% that you do not have proper basic experience
and understanding of XSLT. If this is the case, the best way is to
study -- read a good book (e.g. Mike Kay's "XSLT Programmer's
Reference"), study a few XSLT FAQs (Dave Pawson's is the most extensive
one).


Thanks for kind words; I will definitely look for a good book on XSLT in my favorite bookstore.


Petr

--
Petr Cimprich
Ginger Alliance
www.gingerall.com




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