RE: [xml-dev] xsl:if to find the existence of an element

["Phil Fuhlman" <pfuhlman@Dexma.com>]

With all due respect, and since you asked, IMHO, this may be a good
example of where XSL is *maybe* the wrong tool and you may want to
consider using a 'real programming language', ie. anything from
VBScript, JavaScript, Perl, Python on up to C/C++, Fortran or Cobol.

"...when the only tool you have is a hammer, all of your problems start
to look like nails..."

But then again, I get this feeling anytime I hear/read "if" and "XML
transform" <lol>

</pff>

-----Original Message-----
From: Vanam, Ravindar [mailto:Ravindar.Vanam@nordstrom.com]
Sent: Wednesday, April 10, 2002 11:33 AM
To: xml-dev@lists.xml.org
Subject: [xml-dev] xsl:if to find the existence of an element


Hi All,

Good Morning.

I am facing a problem in finding a way to solve the following problem.

Problem Description:
-----------------------
I have an optional tag with no value associated in the XML document.
Only the existence & non existence of the tag matters
E.g: 
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<SendTaxRequest>
	<TransactionNumber>12345</TransactionNumber>
	<BusinessDayDate>20020106</BusinessDayDate>
	<TaxOutOfCountryFlag/>
</SendTaxRequest>

The Tag "TaxOutOfCountryFlag" is an optional tag.

The requirement is that I have to transform the above XML document to
another XML document considering the existence of the optional field
"TaxOutOfCountryFlag". like following..

1. If "TaxOutOfCountryFlag" element exists the result should be....
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<SendTaxRequest>
	<element name="TransactionIdentifier" type="ebsidicString"
totalDigits="4" value="TX03"/>
	<element name="BusinessDayDate" type="date" totalDigits="8"
value="20020106"/>
	<element name="TaxOutOfCountryFlag" type="ebsidicString"
totalDigits="1" value="Y"/>
</SendTaxRequest>

2. If "TaxOutOfCountryFlag" element does not exist the result should
be....
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<SendTaxRequest>
	<element name="TransactionIdentifier" type="ebsidicString"
totalDigits="4" value="TX03"/>
	<element name="BusinessDayDate" type="date" totalDigits="8"
value="20020106"/>
	<element name="TaxOutOfCountryFlag" type="ebsidicString"
totalDigits="1" value="N"/>
</SendTaxRequest>

Note: the "value" attribute of "TaxOutOfCountryFlag" is changing.

Please suggest me how can I accomplish this problem. Any help is greatly
appreciated.

Thanks,
Ravi

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