Thanks for that idea Dimitre, I worked it out another way.  I moved my 
workings to a new template, then...

<xsl:choose>
 <xsl:when test="$maxNodes!=''">
  <xsl:apply-templates select="/RESULTS/REVIEWS/REVIEW[position() &lt;= 
$maxNodes]"/>
 </xsl:when>
 <xsl:otherwise>
  <xsl:apply-templates select="/RESULTS/REVIEWS/REVIEW"/>
 </xsl:otherwise>
</xsl:choose>

I'll give your way a go too

Many thanks


"Dimitre Novatchev" <dnovatchev@y...> wrote in message 
news:36h3mgF51mj4tU1@i......
>
> "Joe Gass" <joe@n...> wrote in message 
> news:%23TpqPaqCFHA.4004@t......
>> I'd like to optionally cap the number of returned nodes
>> If param maxNodes is sent then
>> <xsl:for-each select="/RESULTS/REVIEWS/REVIEW[position() &lt; 
>> $maxNodes]">
>>
>> Otherwise just use
>> <xsl:for-each select="/RESULTS/REVIEWS/REVIEW">
>>
>> Thanks
>
>
> Specify an unusual value for the $maxNodes parameter -- say -1.
>
> Then you'll have:
>
> <xsl:for-each select="/RESULTS/REVIEWS/REVIEW
>                                                [position() &lt; 
> $maxNodes][$maxNodes != -1]
>                                 |
>
>                                   /RESULTS/REVIEWS/REVIEW[$maxNodes = -1]
>                            "
>
>>
>
>   <!-- Do whatever processing is required -->
>
> </xsl:for-each>
>
>
> Cheers,
> Dimitre Novatchev
>
>