Re: EcmaScript, gone?

Paul Prescod wrote on 27/08/98 09:09:

>The chapter on extensibility is not finished yet.

The XSL draft use of <define-script> was fine but imposing the use of 
ECMAScript was not. The need to address this issue is urgent IMHO as 
extensibility is making a user much more comfortable in embracing XSL as 
she knows she can write a script if she runs into a specific situation 
not addressed by the current spec.

We could maybe use something like <xsl:define-script method="myformat" 
language="ECMAScript">, that would allow XSL processor to recognize and 
process or ignore the element (and corresponding method calls) if it has 
such capabilities. One define-script per method.

This would also open up to other languages and even let mix different 
languages within the same stylesheet. I personally use XSL server-side 
and built a XSL parser (based on 1st draft) in Perl that was using 
<define-script language="Perl"> to extend it's functionality. I'm not 
aware of any server-side ECMAScript implementation (and not sure if even 
I'm interested in one).

As for calling the defined methods, the <xsl:value-of> element seems to 
fit the bill with calls like <xsl:value-of 
expr="myformat(attribute(first-name))".



Francois Belanger
Sitepak, Bringing Internet Business into Focus
http://www.sitepak.com



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