Re: [xsl] Anyone can explain me this syntax?

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

At 2004-01-13 11:58 -0400, Jaime Stuardo wrote:
> >From Muenchian method of grouping, I always use something like this:
>
> ROW[count(. | key('relacion_x_cobertura', REL_ID)[1]) = 1]
> ...
> - Why the . (dot) is used?

It is a reference to the current node.

> why if I omit it, it doesn't work (it returns all elements)?

Yes, because the key()[1] expression returns one node and you are asking if 
the count is 1.

> - What's the meaning of the | (pipe)?

Union (this is a very basic XPath question ... what problems did you have 
looking for the definition?).  A union of two node sets does not contain 
duplicates of the same node.  If the union of the current node and another 
node is one, then the other node must be the current node.

> - What's the meaning of [1]?

First in proximity order (for axis expressions) or document order (for path 
expressions).  In this case it is requesting the first in document 
order.  While redundant in XSLT 1.0 it is not redundant in XSLT 2.0.

> I have always used things like [FIELD_NAME=some_value]. I understand that 
> perfectly, but what about placing only that number in the brackets? I 
> tried by using [2] and it worked too... or, perhaps I was lucky?

You were lucky.  If any of your unique values had only one member, it would 
have returned the empty set, the count of the union would be one, and it 
would have triggered ... so it would have worked but not for the reason the 
expression was written.

I hope this helps.

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


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