Need an XSL test to see if a loop was entered.

[pronerd]

Hi,

As part of an XSL translation I am trying to throw together I need to be able to tell if an "xsl:if" in a "xsl:for-each" loop is ever entered. Specificly I need to know this after the loop is completed to know if I should add a new line.

Normally I would just change a boolean value inside the if test to check this, but XSL does not allow variables to be changed after they are set so that is not an option.

I know people have come up with creative solutions to get around the variable limitations to make things like counters. So I was wondering if anyone knew of a creative was to do this.

    <xsl:for-each select="//someTagName">
        <xsl:if test="@name = 'bob' ">
            <!-- Need to be able to if this if test is entered after the loop is done-->
        </xsl:if>
    </xsl:for-each>

    <!--
       This is where I need to know if the above test was triggered so I can know
       if I should start a new line.
    -->

[pronerd]

As an alternative I realized if there was some way to know if a template was called I could use that. Since calling templates seems to start a different thread I am assuming there is no way to check. Just an idea I thought I would throw out there.

[jkmyoung]

Possibly:

1. Add after the for-each loop

[code=xml]
<xsl:if test="not(//someTagName)">
Add newline here.
</xsl:if>[/code]


2. Put the for-each in a choose-when-otherwise clause
[code=xml]
<xsl:choose>
<xsl:when test="someTagNa me">
<xsl:for-each>
...
</xsl:for-each>
</xsl:when>
<xsl:otherwis e>
add Newline here
</xsl:otherwise>
</xsl:choose>[/code]

[pronerd]

1. Add after the for-each loop
[code=xml]
<xsl:if test="not(//someTagName)">
Add newline here.
</xsl:if>[/code]

That will not work. That will add a new line for each tag that does not match. I only want to add one none of the elements made it though the if test.

2. Put the for-each in a choose-when-otherwise clause
[code=xml]
<xsl:choose>
<xsl:when test="someTagNa me">
<xsl:for-each>
...
</xsl:for-each>
</xsl:when>
<xsl:otherwis e>
add Newline here
</xsl:otherwise>
</xsl:choose>[/code]

This does not work either. Same problem. It will add a new line for every tag that fails the match.

[jkmyoung]

Need more of your underlying xsl to see what you're doing.
The if clause would need to be at a higher level.