plang:xslt:selectnodes:start [Calax.com

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===== Important Notes =====

There are two key parts to XSLT processing:
  * Selecting the nodes or elements to be processed (using a match pattern of XPath or XQuery) by defining a template
  * Applying the processing to the selected nodes by using a templates
  * Accessing the selected node values

==== Selecting Nodes ====

The basic XSLT element for selecting a node is :

<code>
<xsl:template match=pattern>
    Actions to be taken or text to be written out
</xsl:templates>
</code>

When the XSLT processor matches a template's pattern, the node or node set becomes the **//context//** node / node set. You can also refer to the current node as **'.'**

By default a template only matches the the current element and attributes, rather than any children.

==== Applying Logic to Nodes ====

The basic construct for applying the logic is: <code> <xsl:apply-template> </code>

The apply-templates construct only applies to nodes or child nodes, but not to attributes. This can addressed by using the //select // construct in the apply-templates construct.

To apply a specific template the full construct becomes:
<code>
<xsl:apply-template select="xpath expression">
</code>

You can also apply a names template by substituting the final //select// section with:
<code>
<xsl:call-template name="templatename">
</xsl:call-template>
</code>

and adding in:
<code>
   <xsl:template name="templatename">
   </xsl:template>
</code>

You can also specifiy prameters to pass to the called template by using the <code><xsl:param></code> and <code><xsl:with-param></code> inside the called template.


==== Accesing Node Values ====

In order to get the value of a node the construct is: <code> <xsl:value-of select="xpath expression"> </code>