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In addition to full support for XPath 1.0, Altova tools include the industry’s first commercial-grade implementation of the new XPath 2.0 specification. Learn about XPath 1.0/2.0 and relevant support in Altova software applications below.

XPath (XML Path Language) is a language for addressing parts of an XML document. XSLT, XML Schema, and XQuery use XPath expressions to select sets of nodes in XML documents. XPath indicates the path, or route through a document’s hierarchical structure, to the desired node set.

XPath version 2.0 resolves many issues associated with version 1.0 and adds a tremendous number of new features and advanced functionality. With extensions such as support for “for” loops, conditional expressions, regular expressions, and more, XPath 2.0 has evolved into a true programming language. You can read more about the powerful new features of XPath 2.0 here.

XPath support throughout the Altova product line has been updated in compliance with the XPath 2.0 standard adopted by the W3C on January 23, 2007.

To compose valid XPath expressions, you must know exactly how your document is structured. In large, complex documents, writing and testing XPath expressions by hand can be a frustrating and error prone process. Developers need a way to create effective XPath expressions quickly and easily.

The XPath Analyzer included with XMLSpy® 2008 is an invaluable tool that facilitates the testing and debugging of XPath 1.0 and 2.0 expressions. As you type an XPath expression into the analyzer, XMLSpy evaluates it and returns the resulting node set in real time. This can save hours of debugging time spent trying to understand and track down XPath problems, which are a common source of errors in XSLT, XQuery, and XML Schema applications.

In addition to testing XPath expressions with the XPath Analyzer, XMLSpy helps you build XPath 1.0 and 2.0 expressions. Simply select an element or attribute in your XML data file, and the "Copy XPath" command will automatically copy the corresponding XPath expression to the clipboard for use elsewhere in your development project.

StyleVision® 2008, Altova’s visual stylesheet designer, also includes an XPath builder that allows you to create XPath expressions for use in XSLT 1.0 or 2.0 stylesheets quickly and easily.

The XMLSpy XSLT Debugger, SOAP Debugger, and XQuery Debugger accept XPath parameters. You can specify XPath expressions to set breakpoints to halt the debugger at a particular node to evaluate the output. You can also enter an XPath expression for XMLSpy to evaluate in different contexts during the debugging process.

XMLSpy supports integration with the industry leading XML database servers including but not limited to Oracle XML DB can search them using XPath expressions.

StyleVision and Authentic support the design and implementation of conditional formatting templates, which change their appearance based data in the associated XML file or database and can be triggered by a particular XPath 1.0 or 2.0 expression.

All the tools listed above include full XPath 1.0 and 2.0 support and are available individually or bundled in the Altova® MissionKit™ 2008. Get up to 8 software tools for the price of 2 with the Altova® MissionKit™ 2008! The MissionKit bundles Altova's intelligent application development and data management tools to meet the needs of software architects and XML developers. Altova Authentic® 2008 is always available free of charge.

Download a free trial of the Altova® MissionKit™ 2008 today!