Peter Flynn wrote:
> > <xsl:variable name="wri"
> > select="count(items/item[(not(@doc = 'no') and @iname !=
> > starts-with(@iname,'dr')) and
> >     (not(@doc = 'no') and @iname != starts-with(@iname,'hr')) and
> >     (not(@doc = 'no') and @iname != starts-with(@iname,'usr')) and
> >     (not(@doc = 'no') and @iname != starts-with(@iname,'szr')) and
> >     (not(@doc = 'no') and @iname != starts-with(@iname,'ulr')) and
> >     (not(@doc = 'no') and @iname != starts-with(@iname,'ipr')) and
> >     (not(@doc = 'no') and @iname != starts-with(@iname,'br')) and
> >     (not(@doc = 'no') and @iname != starts-with(@iname,'ucr'))])"/>
>
> I'm not clear what this is trying to achieve. @iname is an attribute:
> testing its inequality against a boolean like starts-with will probably
> have unexpected effects, depending on whether the attribute is present
> or not. If present, and starting with 'hr', then the first test should
> always evaluate false.

Here's what this achieves. This XPath finds all the writable <item>
elements for me, because I can identify them when the iname attribute
does NOT start with one of the read-only strings (hr, usr, ulr, etc.).

If you are questioning the syntax of saying "@iname !=
starts-with(@iname,...)" instead of just "!= starts-with(@iname,...)",
I did it that way because it seemed I had to or it didn't work. When I
remove the "@iname !=", I get the error "Unexpected token != in
expression" and it stops the transform. (I'm using Saxon at the command
line.)

I also tried putting the expression in parentheses like (!=
starts-with(@iname,...)), and the same error occurred. It only worked
when I put "@iname != starts-with(@iname,...)".

At this point I think I will just take the money and run. I can count
on there always being an iname attribute.

Thanks again,
Mark