RE: [xsl] Output input_xml apart from one tag change?

[Wendell Piez <wapiez@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

At 10:55 AM 10/2/2007, Scott wrote:
> Quick note here - I use this variation of the identity template below:
>
> <xsl:template match="@*|node()">
>   <xsl:copy>
>     <xsl:apply-templates select="@*|node()"/>
>   </xsl:copy>
> </xsl:template>
>
> Brevity aside, this template also preserves comments and processing
> instructions.

Then there is an in-between variant:

<xsl:template match="node()">
  <xsl:copy>
    <xsl:copy-of select="@*"/>
    <xsl:apply-templates/>
  </xsl:copy>
</xsl:template>

This also copies comments and PIs, since it overrides the built-in 
template for them too.

The difference from Scott's (besides the one line longer), like the 
variant posted earlier, is that it does not apply templates to the 
attributes, which makes it inappropriate for applications that need 
to change (or drop) attributes along with elements. But by the same 
token, it's also a bit more direct.

I'll often use the slightly-longer one because (a) I think why bother 
visiting the attributes to match and apply templates when I know I 
want to copy them, and (b) I think it's just a step more legible and 
hence intelligible to XSLT-newbies who may be maintaining my code 
later (it gives them one less thing to puzzle out).

Cheers,
Wendell



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Wendell Piez                            mailto:wapiez@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
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