Re: [xsl] using document in xsl:key match...

[Wendell Piez <wapiez@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

John-Mark,

At 02:27 PM 5/10/2004, you wrote:
> I am trying to use xsl:key to index a set of elements from another document.
> When I try to do:
> <xsl:key match="document('ed.xml')/root/sup" use="@name"/>
> I get:
> XPath error : Invalid expression
> //document('ed.xml')/root/sup
>            ^
> compilation error: file tb.xml line 7 element key
> xsl:key : XPath pattern compilation failed '//document('ed.xml')/root/sup'
>
> It appears that a // is being prepended to my XPath query, which is causing
> it to fail.  Is this suppose to be a valid construct (using document in
> an xsl:key match term)?  Or is this a bug in the library?

It's not a valid construct. The match attribute on xsl:key must follow the 
same restrictions on match patterns in general.

Just declare the key with a match as if it were a match on a template 
(match="sup" would do, or match="root/sup"), and then when you need to 
retrieve the node you want, change context to the ed.xml document. The key 
function will then work within that context. (I'd give an example but since 
you haven't said what you're doing with the key, it might not apply. Ask 
again if you need to.)

I hope that helps,
Wendell

> After additional reading of: http://www.w3.org/TR/xslt#NT-Pattern
> It appears this construct is not allowed.  Is this correct?

Yes, it is: not allowed.


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Wendell Piez                            mailto:wapiez@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
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