RE: [xsl] xsl:sort -- XSLT version 1.1/2.0: document order and request for reverse doc. order

["Michael Kay" <mhkay at iclway dot co dot uk>]

> XML elements that are already in some kind of order
> in the source document are processed in order they are written in,
> this order is refferred to as document order.  Since WD XSLT
> v1.1 it is
> stated explicitly that when such elements/nodes are used in the
> select att of an apply-templates/xsl:for-each  --without an
> xsl:sort as their child--
> they are processed in document order (XSLTv1.1 ch. 10).
> Sometimes, however, I want to process these nodes in
> *reverse* order.
>
> Q: Is there some deaper reasoning why such a possibility
> isn't offered?
>

The rules for position() in the xsl:sort select expression are expressly
designed so that

<xsl:sort select="position()" data-type="number" order="descending"/>

gives you reverse document order.

(I know, because the rules were put there at my request...)

Mike Kay


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