RE: Keys across multilple input files

[Ann Marie Rubin - Sun PC Networking Engineering <Annmarie dot Rubin at East dot Sun dot COM>]

	From: Kay Michael <Michael.Kay@icl.com>
	To: "'xsl-list@mulberrytech.com'" <xsl-list@mulberrytech.com>
	Subject: RE: Keys across multilple input files
	MIME-Version: 1.0
	
	> 1.  Can I use the xsl:key element to generate keys for CLASS 
	> elements that are each contained in separate files?
	
	Not in any useful way. The key() function can only be used to find nodes in
	the current document.
	   
	  ** But, I thought you could use the <xsl:for-each> statement 
	  ** with the document() function to change the current context 
	  ** node to the root node in different file.  Then, you could
	  ** use the key() function to access the keys in the remote
	  ** file.  Have I misunderstood?
	
	> I tried the following:
	> 
	> <xsl:for-each select="document('filelist.xml')">
	> <xsl:key name="classes" match="class" use="@NAME"/>
	> </xsl:for-each>
	
	You're confusing the key definition (<xsl:key>) which is a top-level
	element, and the key() function, which is used to retrieve nodes using the
	key.
	
	** You are right about that.  I thought the key() function 
	** generates keys, and the <xsl:key> statement retrieves them.
	** I was trying to generate keys for elements that exist in
	** multiple external files.  I didn't know if it was even possible.
	
	> 2.  Can I generate the keys for all CLASS elements in one XSL 
	> process and save them, so that another XSL process can access these keys?
	
	You could generate an XML document that acts as an index, and reference this
	document in a subsequent run using the document() function. But you can't
	save the key index per se.
	 
	** How would I do this? Would I need to use the key() function 
	** to generate keys for all CLASS elements containing in 
	** a single XML document.  Then, in subsequent runs of the
	** stylesheet for ian ndividual XML class files, use the document()
	** function with <xsl:key> to access the indexed CLASS elements
	** in the remote file?
	
	Ann Marie
	
	Mike K
	
	
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