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Re: [xsl] Nicer way to change context-node than xsl:for-each ?

2009-12-05 10:56:09
On Sat, Dec 5, 2009 at 7:05 AM, Mukul Gandhi 
<gandhi(_dot_)mukul(_at_)gmail(_dot_)com> wrote:
Thanks, Dimitre for comments.

I was also thinking to propose a simpler syntax, for passing context
to call-template (as follows, please):

<xsl:call-template name="xx" context="nodeReference">
  <!-- template contents -->
</xsl:call-template>

i.e, we can have an attribute on call-template, instead of wrapping it
within something like xsl:context (which looks much verbose).


If I were on the WG I wouldn't spend time on this -- this is largely
obsolete, unnecessary, dead.


Such a feature is not needed, especially in XSLT 2, where the use of
<xsl:call-template> shouldn't be recommended -- why would anyone
prefer it to the use of <xsl:function> ?

I think, xsl:function can be only called within XPath 2 expressions,
whereas, call-template can be part of a sequence constructor. IMHO,
both are useful.

The use of an <xsl:function> to produce content is simple:

  <xsl:sequence select="my:foo(bar)"/>



Even in XSLT 1.0 <xsl:call-template> is not necessary -- one can
always accomplish the same with <xsl:apply-templates>

I largely agree. But I think, xsl:apply-templates is kind of push
processing (and tries to find nodes in the input document, and applies
the match template on them).

Didn't you know that <xsl:apply-templates> can be used in pull-style
processing? Modes and uniquely namespaced nodes should light a bulb :)


Anyone (who hasn't already come to this conclusion) can find all facts
and conclude that the following is not needed:


But xsl:call-template looks to me, truly a subroutine (but it being
able to inherit the context of caller, makes it different than a true
black box subroutine). It can take certain arguments, and can return a
RTF (in XSLT 1) or a sequence (in 2.0).

btw, I think having following enhancement to 2.0 language:

<xsl:call-template name="xx" inherit-context="no">
  <!-- template contents -->
</xsl:call-template>

(default value of, inherit-context can be "yes")

can make call-template instructions truly black box subroutine calls.
I think, this will be useful to users.

But I agree, that xsl:call-template and xsl:apply-templates can
archive similar objectives, in many cases.


-- 
Cheers,
Dimitre Novatchev
---------------------------------------
Truly great madness cannot be achieved without significant intelligence.
---------------------------------------
To invent, you need a good imagination and a pile of junk
-------------------------------------
Never fight an inanimate object
-------------------------------------
You've achieved success in your field when you don't know whether what
you're doing is work or play
-------------------------------------
I enjoy the massacre of ads. This sentence will slaughter ads without
a messy bloodbath.

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