Re: Annoying XSLT code

Play the video

Subject: Re: Annoying XSLT code
From: Wendell Piez <wapiez@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: Thu, 18 Aug 2005 15:07:55 -0400

At 08:35 AM 8/18/2005, David wrote:

> The first is selecting something using a variable and then applying
> templates to that variable, eg:
>
> <xsl:apply-templates select="$sections/section"/>

Why is this annoying? (I do it all the time:-) if the xpath to select
$sections is big and complicated and you need to query into it multiple
times then you either need to use a variable, or trust your system's
optimiser to implictly cache the result of the expression the first time
you use it.

Not only that, but it's a useful way to work around bugs in some widely deployed engines, which can have a hard time with gnarly XPaths but do okay when their constituent parts are bound to variables.

I agree that sometimes this can be overused and that tracking variable declarations across miles of files is no fun, but I also agree with David that it's a useful technique that can contribute to good code. A balance must be struck. Documenting your code (with comments if necessary) can also help the general problem of code opacity.

Cheers,
Wendell


======================================================================
Wendell Piez                            mailto:wapiez@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Mulberry Technologies, Inc.                http://www.mulberrytech.com
17 West Jefferson Street                    Direct Phone: 301/315-9635
Suite 207                                          Phone: 301/315-9631
Rockville, MD  20850                                 Fax: 301/315-8285
----------------------------------------------------------------------
  Mulberry Technologies: A Consultancy Specializing in SGML and XML
======================================================================

Current Thread

RE: Annoying XSLT code, (continued)
- David Carlisle - 18 Aug 2005 12:36:17 -0000
  - andrew welch - 18 Aug 2005 12:48:17 -0000
    - David Carlisle - 18 Aug 2005 12:56:15 -0000
  - Wendell Piez - 18 Aug 2005 19:31:24 -0000 <=
    - Michael Kay - 18 Aug 2005 20:35:04 -0000
    - JBryant - 18 Aug 2005 20:35:47 -0000
    - Michael Kay - 18 Aug 2005 21:11:01 -0000
- Colin Paul Adams - 18 Aug 2005 22:08:54 -0000

<- Previous	Index	Next ->
Re: Annoying XSLT code, David Carlisle	Thread	RE: Annoying XSLT code, Michael Kay
Re: Increment a variable, Wendell Piez	Date	RE: Annoying XSLT code, Michael Kay
	Month

PURCHASE STYLUS STUDIO ONLINE TODAY!

Purchasing Stylus Studio from our online shop is Easy, Secure and Value Priced!

Download The World's Best XML IDE!

Accelerate XML development with our award-winning XML IDE - Download a free trial today!

Subscribe in XML format

RSS 2.0
Atom 0.3

XML Editor - Download a 15 Day Free Trial Now >

See What's New in Stylus Studio >

Buy Stylus Studio - XML Editor - Now >