I’m a print designer working on a travel guide that we recently started managing with XML-tagged content and XSLT styling. It mostly works, aside from this one small issue that has driven us to wit’s end! We have some sub-attraction listings that should appear as “child” listings that we can style differently in InDesign layout, and they’re noted in the XML by noting a value for their “parent” attraction in the MainAttraction tag.
My understanding is that we need the .XSL to notice whether there’s a value in the MainAttraction tags, and if there is, then to pull out the elements associated with that attraction to go under a different container tag so we can style them differently. I just haven’t had any luck writing syntax for this that works after doing some basic training and Googling around forums.
Here's what I'm experimenting with, which pulls in everything correctly except for sub-attractions (they're listed within the Attraction tags for their associated parent listing):
XSLT
<?xml version="1.0" ?>
<xsl:stylesheet xmlns:xsl="http://www.w3.org/1999/XSL/Transform" version="1.0">
<xsl:template match="/">
<Cities>
<xsl:for-each select="Root/City">
<City>
<City_Name>
<xsl:value-of select="City_Name"/>
</City_Name>
<xsl:text>
</xsl:text>
<City_Stats>
<xsl:text>POP. </xsl:text>
<xsl:value-of select="Population"/>
<xsl:text> ALT. </xsl:text>
<xsl:value-of select="Altitude"/>
<xsl:text> MAP </xsl:text>
<xsl:value-of select="Map_Grid_Location"/>
</City_Stats>
<xsl:text>
</xsl:text>
<Visitor_Info>
<Visitor_Center>
<xsl:value-of select="Visitor_Center"/><xsl:text>: </xsl:text>
</Visitor_Center>
<Visitor_Information>
<xsl:value-of select="Visitor_Information"/><xsl:text> </xsl:text>
<xsl:value-of select="Address"/>
<xsl:text> </xsl:text>
<xsl:value-of select="normalize-space(Phone1)"/>
<xsl:if test="string-length(Phone2) > 0">
<xsl:text> or </xsl:text>
<xsl:value-of select="Phone2"/>
</xsl:if>
<xsl:if test="string-length(Phone1) > 0">
<xsl:text>. </xsl:text>
</xsl:if>
<xsl:value-of select="normalize-space(Website1)"/>
<xsl:if test="string-length(Website2) > 0">
<xsl:text> or </xsl:text>
<xsl:value-of select="Website2"/>
</xsl:if>
<xsl:if test="string-length(Website1) > 0">
<xsl:text>. </xsl:text>
</xsl:if>
</Visitor_Information>
</Visitor_Info>
<xsl:text>
</xsl:text>
<Description>
<xsl:value-of select="Description"/>
</Description>
<xsl:text>
</xsl:text>
<Attractions>
<xsl:apply-templates select="Attraction"/>
</Attractions>
</City>
</xsl:for-each>
</Cities>
</xsl:template>
<xsl:template match="Attraction">
<Attraction>
<Attraction_Title>
<xsl:value-of select="normalize-space(Attraction_Title)"/>
</Attraction_Title>
<xsl:text>—</xsl:text>
<xsl:value-of select="Desc"/><xsl:text> </xsl:text>
<xsl:value-of select="normalize-space(Admissions)"/>
<xsl:if test="string-length(Admissions) > 0">
<xsl:text>. </xsl:text>
</xsl:if>
<xsl:value-of select="normalize-space(Address)"/>
<xsl:if test="string-length(Address) > 0">
<xsl:text>. </xsl:text>
</xsl:if>
<xsl:value-of select="normalize-space(Directions)"/>
<xsl:if test="string-length(Directions) > 0">
<xsl:text>. </xsl:text>
</xsl:if>
<xsl:value-of select="normalize-space(Phone)"/>
<xsl:if test="string-length(AltPhone) > 0">
<xsl:text> or </xsl:text>
<xsl:value-of select="normalize-space(AltPhone)"/>
</xsl:if>
<xsl:if test="string-length(Phone) > 0">
<xsl:text>. </xsl:text>
</xsl:if>
<xsl:value-of select="normalize-space(WebAddress)"/>
<xsl:if test="string-length(WebAddress2) > 0">
<xsl:text> or </xsl:text>
<xsl:value-of select="normalize-space(WebAddress2)"/>
</xsl:if>
<xsl:if test="string-length(WebAddress) > 0">
<xsl:text>. </xsl:text>
</xsl:if>
<xsl:value-of select="normalize-space(Email)"/>
<xsl:if test="string-length(Email) > 0">
<xsl:text>. </xsl:text>
</xsl:if>
<xsl:if test="string-length(SeeAlso) > 0">
<xsl:text> </xsl:text>
<xsl:text>See </xsl:text>
<xsl:value-of select="normalize-space(SeeAlso)"/>
<xsl:text>. </xsl:text>
</xsl:if>
<xsl:text>
</xsl:text>
</Attraction>
</xsl:template>
<xsl:template match="SubAttraction">
<SubAttraction>
<xsl:if test="string-length(MainAttraction) > 0">
<xsl:text>	</xsl:text>
<SubAttraction_Title>
<xsl:value-of select="normalize-space(Attraction_Title)"/>
</SubAttraction_Title>
<xsl:text>—</xsl:text>
<xsl:value-of select="Desc"/><xsl:text> </xsl:text>
<xsl:value-of select="normalize-space(Admissions)"/>
<xsl:if test="string-length(Admissions) > 0">
<xsl:text>. </xsl:text>
</xsl:if>
<xsl:value-of select="normalize-space(Address)"/>
<xsl:if test="string-length(Address) > 0">
<xsl:text>. </xsl:text>
</xsl:if>
<xsl:value-of select="normalize-space(Directions)"/>
<xsl:if test="string-length(Directions) > 0">
<xsl:text>. </xsl:text>
</xsl:if>
<xsl:value-of select="normalize-space(Phone)"/>
<xsl:if test="string-length(AltPhone) > 0">
<xsl:text> or </xsl:text>
<xsl:value-of select="normalize-space(AltPhone)"/>
</xsl:if>
<xsl:if test="string-length(Phone) > 0">
<xsl:text>. </xsl:text>
</xsl:if>
<xsl:value-of select="normalize-space(WebAddress)"/>
<xsl:if test="string-length(WebAddress2) > 0">
<xsl:text> or </xsl:text>
<xsl:value-of select="normalize-space(WebAddress2)"/>
</xsl:if>
<xsl:if test="string-length(WebAddress) > 0">
<xsl:text>. </xsl:text>
</xsl:if>
<xsl:value-of select="normalize-space(Email)"/>
<xsl:if test="string-length(Email) > 0">
<xsl:text>. </xsl:text>
</xsl:if>
<xsl:text>
</xsl:text>
</xsl:if>
</SubAttraction>
</xsl:template>
</xsl:stylesheet>
XML INPUT SAMPLE (note that the sub-attraction example, the Fredda Turner Durham Children's Museum, has a value in its Main Attraction tags and is nested within the attraction tags for its parent listing)
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<Root>
<City>
<City_Name>MIDLAND</City_Name>
<Region>BIG BEND COUNTRY</Region>
<Population>127,598</Population>
<Altitude>2,891</Altitude>
<Map_Grid_Location>L-9/KK-4</Map_Grid_Location>
<Visitor_Center>Midland Visitors Center</Visitor_Center> <Visitor_Information>Midland Convention & Visitors Bureau: Open 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Mon.-Sat. 109 N Main St. 800/624-6435.</Visitor_Information><Address>1406 W. I-20 (Exit 136).</Address><Hours>Open 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Mon.-Sat.</Hours><Phone1>432/683-2882</Phone1><Phone2>800/624-6435</Phone2><Website1><a href="http://www.visitmidlandtexas.com" >www.visitmidlandtexas.com</a></Website1><Website2></Website2><Email></Email>
<CityId>MIDLAND</CityId>
<Description>Description text goes here.</Description>
<Attraction>
<Attraction_Title>Haley Library & History Center</Attraction_Title>
<Desc>Description text goes here. </Desc>
<Admissions>Donations accepted.</Admissions>
<Hours>Open 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Mon.-Fri.</Hours>
<Address>1805 W. Indiana Ave.</Address>
<Directions></Directions>
<Phone>432/682-5785</Phone>
<AltPhone></AltPhone>
<WebAddress></WebAddress>
<WebAddress2></WebAddress2>
<Email></Email>
<SeeAlso></SeeAlso>
<MainAttraction></MainAttraction>
</Attraction>
<Attraction>
<Attraction_Title>I-20 Wildlife Preserve & Jenna Welch Nature Study Center</Attraction_Title>
<Desc>Description text goes here.</Desc>
<Admissions></Admissions>
<Hours>Open dusk–dawn daily.</Hours>
<Address>2201 S. Midland Dr.</Address>
<Phone>432/853-9453</Phone>
<AltPhone></AltPhone>
<WebAddress>www.i20wildlifepreserve.org</WebAddress>
<WebAddress2></WebAddress2>
<Email></Email>
<SeeAlso></SeeAlso>
<MainAttraction></MainAttraction>
</Attraction>
<Attraction>
<Attraction_Title>Museum of the Southwest</Attraction_Title>
<Desc>Description text goes here.</Desc>
<Admissions>Admission charged.</Admissions>
<Hours>Open 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tue.-Sat. and 2-5 p.m. Sun.</Hours>
<Address>1705 W. Missouri.</Address>
<Directions></Directions>
<Phone>432/683-2882</Phone>
<AltPhone></AltPhone>
<WebAddress>www.museumsw.org</WebAddress>
<WebAddress2></WebAddress2>
<Email></Email>
<SeeAlso></SeeAlso>
<MainAttraction></MainAttraction>
<Attraction>
<Attraction_Title>Fredda Turner Durham Children's Museum</Attraction_Title>
<Desc>Description text goes here.</Desc>
<Admissions>Admission charge.</Admissions>
<Hours>Open 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tue.-Sat. and 2-5 p.m. Sun. Free admission on Sundays.</Hours>
<Address></Address><Directions></Directions><Phone>432/683-2882</Phone><AltPhone></AltPhone><WebAddress></WebAddress><WebAddress2></WebAddress2><Email></Email><SeeAlso></SeeAlso><MainAttraction>Museum of the Southwest</MainAttraction>
</Attraction>
</Attraction>
</City>
</Root>
CURRENT OUTPUT (the sub-attraction doesn't display)
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<Cities>
<City>
<City_Name>MIDLAND</City_Name>
<City_Stats>POP. 127,598 ALT. 2,891 MAP L-9/KK-4</City_Stats>
<Visitor_Info>
<Visitor_Center>Midland Visitors Center:</Visitor_Center>
<Visitor_Information>Midland Convention & Visitors Bureau: Open 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Mon.-Sat. 109 N Main St. 800/624-6435. 1406 W. I-20 (Exit 136). 432/683-2882 or 800/624-6435. <a href="http://www.visitmidlandtexas.com" >www.visitmidlandtexas.com</a>.</Visitor_Information>
</Visitor_Info>
<Description>Description text goes here.</Description>
<Attractions>
<Attraction>
<Attraction_Title>Haley Library & History Center</Attraction_Title>
—Description text goes here. Donations accepted.. 1805 W. Indiana Ave.. 432/682-5785.
</Attraction>
<Attraction>
<Attraction_Title>I-20 Wildlife Preserve & Jenna Welch Nature Study Center</Attraction_Title>
—Description text goes here. 2201 S. Midland Dr.. 432/853-9453. www.i20wildlifepreserve.org.
</Attraction>
<Attraction>
<Attraction_Title>Museum of the Southwest</Attraction_Title>
—Description text goes here. Admission charged.. 1705 W. Missouri.. 432/683-2882. www.museumsw.org.
</Attraction>
</Attractions>
</City>
</Cities>
DESIRED OUTPUT (the sub-attraction displays and had its own container tags)
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<Cities>
<City>
<City_Name>MIDLAND</City_Name>
<City_Stats>POP. 127,598 ALT. 2,891 MAP L-9/KK-4</City_Stats>
<Visitor_Info>
<Visitor_Center>Midland Visitors Center:</Visitor_Center>
<Visitor_Information>Midland Convention & Visitors Bureau: Open 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Mon.-Sat. 109 N Main St. 800/624-6435. 1406 W. I-20 (Exit 136). 432/683-2882 or 800/624-6435. <a href="http://www.visitmidlandtexas.com" >www.visitmidlandtexas.com</a>.</Visitor_Information>
</Visitor_Info>
<Description>Description text goes here.</Description>
<Attractions>
<Attraction>
<Attraction_Title>Haley Library & History Center</Attraction_Title>
—Description text goes here. Donations accepted.. 1805 W. Indiana Ave.. 432/682-5785.
</Attraction>
<Attraction>
<Attraction_Title>I-20 Wildlife Preserve & Jenna Welch Nature Study Center</Attraction_Title>—Description text goes here. 2201 S. Midland Dr.. 432/853-9453. www.i20wildlifepreserve.org.
</Attraction>
<Attraction>
<Attraction_Title>Museum of the Southwest</Attraction_Title>—Description text goes here. Admission charged.. 1705 W. Missouri.. 432/683-2882. www.museumsw.org.
</Attraction>
<SubAttraction>
<SubAttraction_Title>Fredda Turner Durham Children's Museum</SubAttraction_Title>—Description text goes here. Admission charge.. 432/683-2882.
</SubAttraction>
</Attractions>
</City>
</Cities>
So what do I do here to make it so sub-attractions (attractions with a value int he MainAttraction field) can get pulled into new container tags? I understand that we want to create a new template for SubAttractions, but I don't know how to get only the desired elements into it. I'd greatly appreciate help in finding something to plug in here if it's not too difficult for someone more experienced.
[Original post has been edited to provide more useful info.]
The line
<xsl:template match="SubAttraction">
won't match anything because there are no SubAttraction nodes in the input xml.
To get the match you'll need to change that to
<xsl:template match="Attraction[../../Attraction]">
then add
<xsl:apply-templates select="Attraction"/>
before the line
</Attraction>
in your xsl:template match="Attraction" template.