Re: [xsl] Batch processing

[Abel Braaksma <abel.online@xxxxxxxxx>]

There's no such thing as a for-each loop in XSLT (at least not that 
compares to a C++ style for-loop). The closest what you can have is 
xsl:for-each, but it does not "loop", instead you tell the processor to 
execute the sequence constructor for all nodes in the node set, in any 
order (but note that this does not influence the output order), in 
parallel or not.

In Perl you can do a lot that you cannot (easily) do in XSLT and in XSLT 
you can do a lot that you cannot (easily) do in Perl. Choose the 
language that suits the job wisely.

If you want to call something from the commandline, you will have to 
write an extension function or instruction. But I consider it highly 
unlikely that it is needed to call a commandline from XSLT. If it is 
needed to call another program with certain parameters, choose a 
workflow system, or if you must it is better to use URIs and use the 
document function and act upon the return XML (you *must* return XML), 
which will make your XSLT "interactive" with the environment.

Finally, what MK suggested exactly resembles a way you can also use in a 
xsl:for-each instruction or any instruction for that matter. 
xsl:for-each is in essence the same as xsl:apply-templates + matching 
template (but the difference is in the method, first method is: you 
choose what must be done, second method is: you let the programmer 
choose). Which method suits best depends on your data and your personal 
taste. It has nothing to do with whether you call a commandline or not 
(as a matter of fact, everything concerning nodes that you can express 
in a for-each you can also express in an apply-templates).

Did you already try: <xsl:for-each select="document(xmlFile)">....?

Cheers,
-- Abel Braaksma


J. S. Rawat wrote:
> ...but I want it to call it within for-each loop and want to call 
> commandline. If you are aware of Perl, we can do it by $sh.
>
> At 01:03 PM 5/28/2007 +0100, you wrote:
> > You don't need the collection() function for this, you can do it with
> > document(). With <dir> as your current node, do
> >
> > <xsl:apply-templates select="document(xmlFile)" mode="m"/>
> >
> > and it will cause each of these input documents to be processed.
> >
> > Michael Kay
> > http://www.saxonica.com/