Re: [xsl] Random number seed generation

[Tony Graham <Tony.Graham@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

On Thu, Dec 09 2010 14:04:57 +0000, michel.hendriksen@xxxxx wrote:
> I'm using Saxon9he processor XSLT 2.0, and I am trying to get some
> random numbers. I'm currently using fxsl/random for this. The problem
> is that it needs a seed.
> I tried using current time stuff but that doesn't change during the
> transfomation using the stylesheet.. So I tried an extension function
> to cal to Java but that doesn't seem to work. Examples are probably

That would require "Extensibility using reflexion", which isn't in Saxon
9 HE.  See http://www.saxonica.com/feature-matrix.xml (ideally after it
has a stylesheet PI added to it).

> XSLT 1.0 but should be ok.
>
> Is this possible on Home Edition? Did things change in transition to
> 2.0? Is there an other way to get some seed for the random function? I

More in the transition from 'B' to 'HE', IIRC.

> can't resuse the value as I would have to keep it somewhere in between
> calls. One idea would be to use generate-id() but that gives a string.
> Could be useful when this is always convertible to a number.
>
> I'm running the processor from a Java application now. It is a
> learning project and should be able to run Genetic Algorithm
> functionality, so lots of random stuff is needed.

Just pass a seed generated with Java as a stylesheet parameter.

Regards,


Tony Graham                         Tony.Graham@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Director                                  W3C XSL FO SG Invited Expert
Menteith Consulting Ltd                               XML Guild member
XML, XSL and XSLT consulting, programming and training
Registered Office: 13 Kelly's Bay Beach, Skerries, Co. Dublin, Ireland
Registered in Ireland - No. 428599   http://www.menteithconsulting.com
  --  --  --  --  --  --  --  --  --  --  --  --  --  --  --  --  --
xmlroff XSL Formatter                               http://xmlroff.org
xslide Emacs mode                  http://www.menteith.com/wiki/xslide
Unicode: A Primer                               urn:isbn:0-7645-4625-2