Have you tried preceding::*[1] ?!
AFAIK this only matches elements.


. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Patrick Szabo
 XSLT-Entwickler
LexisNexis
Marxergasse 25, 1030 Wien

mailto:patrick.szabo@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Tel.: +43 (1) 534 52 - 1573
Fax: +43 (1) 534 52 - 146


-----UrsprC<ngliche Nachricht-----

Von: Karl Stubsjoen [mailto:kstubs@xxxxxxxxx]
Gesendet: Dienstag, 08. Februar 2011 07:16
An: xsl-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Betreff:  1st previous node()

XSL1.0
I need help finding the first previous node, skipping white space,
comments, etc.. I thought this might work, but I can't get it or
similar tries to work.

<xsl:variable name="previous" select="preceding::node()
   [not(comment())]
   [not(text())]
   [not(processing-instruction())]
   [1]"/>

Given that <X> is the context node then I expect the previous node is <M>.

<A>
 <M>
   <?skip me?>
   <!--skip me-->
  </M>
  <X> this is context node </X>
</A>

Given that <X> is the context node then I expect the previous node is <B>.

<A>
 <B>
  <X> this is context node </X>
 </B>
</A>



--
Karl Stubsjoen
MeetScoresOnline.com
(602) 845-0006