Dhruv,

>I was interested in knowing whether it is possible
>to format specific pieces of text within an element's content using XSL

It is possible; it's all about the string functions in XSLT.  See ch. 14 of
the XML bible at

http://metalab.unc.edu/xml/books/bible/updates/14.html

or XSLT Programmer's Reference, ch. 7.

For your example

>
><para>
>   This publication covers the equipment found in the
>   Auxiliary, Blower and Engine Cab Areas (Fig. 1). For
>repair
>   or overhaul of specific equipment listed in this
>publication,
>   refer to the  Backshop Manual.
></para>

The following template will output '(Fig. X)' as an <a> element for Figure
#'s 1-9:

<xsl:template match="para[contains(.,'(Fig.')]">
     <p>
        <xsl:value-of select="substring-before(.,'(Fig.')"/>
        <a>
            <xsl:attribute
name="href">http://www.somewhere.org</xsl:attribute>
            <xsl:value-of
select="substring(.,string-length(substring-before(.,'Fig.')),8)"/>
        </a>
        <xsl:value-of select="substring-after(.,')')"/>
    </p>
</xsl:template>

mark giacobbe
mgiacobbe@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx


 XSL-List info and archive:  http://www.mulberrytech.com/xsl/xsl-list