XML/XSL Sequence Numbers

[HugeBob]

Hi All,

I've got a successful XSL file working that generates a table. I want
to be able to perform alternate background colors for the table's rows.
How can I count the rows generated by the table and then determine if
that number is even/odd?

Thanks.

 

[Martin Honnen]

HugeBob wrote:

I've got a successful XSL file working that generates a table. I want
to be able to perform alternate background colors for the table's rows.
How can I count the rows generated by the table and then determine if
that number is even/odd?

Usually you have some elements in the XML input that correspond to the
table rows, e.g. some item elements. When you process these with either
<xsd:for-each select="item">
or
<xsl:apply-templates select="item"/>
to create the rows you can simply use the position function to check
whether it is an even or odd position
position() mod 2 = 0
Use that test to generate an attribute for the background color or for
the corresponding style class.

 

[Joe Kesselman]

Rather than maintaining your own counter, it's usually better to use
XSLT's built-in position(). (In this case, position modulo 2 to get
odd/even tests.) Related FAQs:

Position: http://www.dpawson.co.uk/xsl/sect2/N6099.html

If you want the length of a nodeset, that's last().

(The Numbering section of the FAQ may also be worth reviewing.)

 

[Joe Kesselman]

Oh, more specific for alternation:
http://www.dpawson.co.uk/xsl/sect2/N961.html

 

[HugeBob]

Martin,

Here's what I'm trying:

<TR
<xsl:if test="number(position() mod 2) &gt; 0">

I'm not having any luck though.

 

[Johannes Koch]

Here's what I'm trying:

<TR
<xsl:if test="number(position() mod 2) &gt; 0">
<xsl:text>class="alternateBg"</xsl:text>
</xsl:if>

Here you are creating a text node. Use xsl:attribute.

 

[Peter Flynn]

Hi All,

I've got a successful XSL file working that generates a table. I want
to be able to perform alternate background colors for the table's rows.
How can I count the rows generated by the table and then determine if
that number is even/odd?

This is covered in the Dave Pawson's XSL FAQ.

///Peter