RE: [xsl] top level params and xsl:attribute magic?

["Michael Kay" <michael.h.kay@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

> I'm beginning to think that XSLT is a bit like magic. If you 
> think the 
> right way, and use the right magic incantation, it works like 
> a charm. If you don't, no cigar.

I would have said that was a characteristic of computer programming in
general.
> 
> I have this top-level param to grab a param from http:
>    <xsl:param name="StartPointStr">.</xsl:param>
> 
> The param StartPointStr is an Xpath string. Next I have this (which 
> works) (1)
>    <xsl:param name="StartNode" select="dyn:evaluate($StartPointStr)"/>
> 
> Compare to this (which doesn't work): (2)
>    <xsl:param name="StartNode">
>          <xsl:attribute name="select">
>            <xsl:value-of select="dyn:evaluate($StartPointStr)"/>
>          </xsl:attribute>
>    </xsl:param>
> 
> (1) works and (2) doesn't work. With two, I get nothing, empty node 
> set. They should be equivalent!

They are completely different. (1) passes the result of evaluating the
expression held in $StartPointStr. (2) attempts to pass a result tree
fragment containing an attribute node whose name is "select" and whose
value is the result of evaluating the expression held in $StartPointStr.
XSLT doesn't allow creation of attribute nodes except when they are
attached to an element, so this should throw an error.

Michael Kay
Software AG
home: Michael.H.Kay@xxxxxxxxxxxx
work: Michael.Kay@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx 



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