This is a grouping problem, so in xslt 1, S. Muench rescues you again...
<root>
<sub_a>
<elem_1/>
<elem_2/>
<elem_3/>
</sub_a>
<sub_b>
<elem_1/>
<elem_2/>
<elem_2/>
<elem_2/>
<elem_3/>
</sub_b>
<sub_c>
<elem_1/>
<elem_2/>
<elem_3/>
</sub_c>
</root>
<xsl:stylesheet
version="1.0"
xmlns:xsl="http://www.w3.org/1999/XSL/Transform"
<xsl:output indent="yes"/>
<xsl:key name="x" match="root/*/*"
use="concat(generate-id(..),':',name())"/>
<xsl:template match="root">
<root>
<xsl:for-each
select="*/*[generate-id()=generate-id(key('x',concat(generate-id(..),':',name()))[2])]">
<xsl:element name="{name(..)}">
<xsl:copy-of select="key('x',concat(generate-id(..),':',name()))"/>
</xsl:element>
</xsl:for-each>
</root>
</xsl:template>
</xsl:stylesheet>
$ saxon subnode.xml subnode.xsl
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<root>
<sub_b>
<elem_2/>
<elem_2/>
<elem_2/>
</sub_b>
</root>
________________________________________________________________________
This e-mail has been scanned for all viruses by Star. The
service is powered by MessageLabs. For more information on a proactive
anti-virus service working around the clock, around the globe, visit:
http://www.star.net.uk
________________________________________________________________________
--~------------------------------------------------------------------
XSL-List info and archive: http://www.mulberrytech.com/xsl/xsl-list
To unsubscribe, go to: http://lists.mulberrytech.com/xsl-list/
or e-mail: <mailto:xsl-list-unsubscribe(_at_)lists(_dot_)mulberrytech(_dot_)com>
--~--