Re: Is it possible to store XSLT code fragments as dat

Hello XSLT experts!

As you know, XPath expressions can be stored in an XML document and then an

XSLT program can be written which inputs each expression and dynamically
evaluates them. For example, I created several XPath expressions to query Book
data; I stored the XPath expressions this way:

<Queries>
     <Query>
         <XPath>/Bookstore/Book</XPath>
     </Query>
     <Query>
         <XPath>/Bookstore/Book[Binding eq 'paperback']</XPath>
     </Query>
</Queries>

Then I created an XSLT program which loops over each XPath expression and

<xsl:variable name="queries" select="doc('XPath-Queries.xml')" />

<xsl:template match="/">
     <Results>
         <xsl:variable name="book-doc" select="."/>
         <xsl:for-each select="$queries//Query">
             <Query-Result>
                 <xsl:variable name="result" as="element()*">
                     <xsl:evaluate xpath="./XPath" context-item="$book-doc"

                 </xsl:variable>
                 <xsl:sequence select="$result" />
             </Query-Result>
         </xsl:for-each>
     </Results>
</xsl:template>

The ability to store XPath expressions as data and then dynamically evaluate

I would like to take the next step and store XSLT code fragments as data and

then dynamically evaluate them. For example, I have a code fragment for
converting the cost of a Book in U.S. Dollars (USD) to the cost in Great
Britain Pounds (GBP):

<Book currency="GBP">
     <xsl:value-of select="number($book-in-usd/Cost) * 0.79" />
</Book>

I vaguely recall that long ago there was a proposal by the XSLT working

group to provide an eval() function which would do exactly what I desire; but
I checked the latest specification and it appears the eval() function wasn't
accepted. Bummer.

The big picture is this: I want to perform various mapping operations on the

Book data. I want the mapping operations expressed in a declarative manner so
that Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) can review the mappings for correctness
(e.g., upon reviewing the above code fragment the SME says: "Yes, that is the
correct way to convert costs in USD to GBP"). Ideally, the mapping operations
would be stored as data and then dynamically evaluated (after the SMEs have
certified their correctness). What do you recommend? It appears that dynamic
evaluation of XSLT code fragments is not possible, so what is the next best
thing?

In XPath 3.1 there is the
  transform
function to run an XSLT 3 stylesheet from XPath 3 or XSLT 3 or XQuery 3
code, it allows you to use apply-templates or call-template or even run
one of your user-defined functions.