> If you have acce<xsl:variable name="total"
> select="count($filter)"></xsl:variable> 

ss to x:node-set (most xslt 1 systems other tahn
mozilla have it) the it's easy. just

<xsl:variable name="filter">
 <xsl:for-each....

</xsl;for-each>
</xsl:variable>

<xsl:variable name="total" select="count(x:node-set($filter)/*)"/>


If you haven't got node-set then it's a bit less convenient.

David