Referring input document when processing multiple documents in XSLT

[Filip Hendrickx]

Hi all.

I am processing two documents with an XSLT, one is the input document,
the other is loaded with the document() function in a variable $doc2.

Inside a template that matches an element from $doc2, I need to check a
value from the original input document. However, inside this template,
the context is $doc2. What XPath expression should I use to refer to the
input document? I've tried using /inputNamespace:inputElement, where
inputNamespace and inputElement refer to the input document. This
doesn't work because no such element exists within the context of the
template, which is $doc2.

A small example may clarify want I mean .

<xsl:stylesheet>
<xsl:template match="/">
<xsl:variable name="doc2" select="document('doc2.xml')"/>
<xsl:apply-templates select="$doc2/someNodeInDoc2"/>
</xsl:template>

<xsl:template match="someNodeInDoc2">
<xsl:variable name="someNodeInInputDoc" select="XPath expression
referring input document"/>
...
</xsl:template>
</xsl:stylesheet>

I solved the problem by defining an additional variable $inputDoc for
the input document and then using $inputDoc/someNodeInInputDoc, but
isn't there a way to directly access the input document, without
explicitly having to load the input document?

Thanks!

Filip Hendrickx.

 

[George Bina]

Hi Filip,

The solution is exactly what you used to solve the problem: define a
variable to point to the initial document and use that to access
information in that document.

Best Regards,
George

 

[Joe Kesselman]

I solved the problem by defining an additional variable $inputDoc for
the input document and then using $inputDoc/someNodeInInputDoc

I think a global variable set to reference the root of the main input
document really is your best solution. This will get set at stylesheet
startup, so it's nearly as efficient as if there was an XSLT built-in
function for this purpose.

<xsl:stylesheet>
<xsl:variable name="inputDoc" select="/"/>

<xsl:template match="/">
<xsl:variable name="doc2" select="document('doc2.xml')"/>
<xsl:apply-templates select="$doc2/someNodeInDoc2"/>
</xsl:template>

<xsl:template match="someNodeInDoc2">
<xsl:variable name="someNodeInInputDoc"
select="$inputDoc/someNodeInInputDoc"/>
...
</xsl:template>
</xsl:stylesheet>

 

[Filip Hendrickx]

Joe Kesselman schreef:

I think a global variable set to reference the root of the main input
document really is your best solution. This will get set at stylesheet
startup, so it's nearly as efficient as if there was an XSLT built-in
function for this purpose.

<xsl:stylesheet>
<xsl:variable name="inputDoc" select="/"/>

<xsl:template match="/">
<xsl:variable name="doc2" select="document('doc2.xml')"/>
<xsl:apply-templates select="$doc2/someNodeInDoc2"/>
</xsl:template>

<xsl:template match="someNodeInDoc2">
<xsl:variable name="someNodeInInputDoc"
select="$inputDoc/someNodeInInputDoc"/>
...
</xsl:template>
</xsl:stylesheet>

Now, why did I overlook this simple and elegant solution ;-)? Thanks!

Filip.