<xsl:if test="string-length((../memotext) &gt; 126)"> <br /></xsl:if>

(../memotext) &gt; 126

will take the string value of that element convert it to a number
(probably getting NaN) and then compare with 126

so this is probably false

string-length((../memotext) &gt; 126)

first converts its argument to a string, "false" and then takes its
length so this is 5

using a number in a test attribute it's true if the number isn't zero.

You have the brackets in the wrong place...

test="string-length(../memotext) &gt; 126">

David

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