> (preceding-sibling::default[1]    | 
> ..\preceding-sibling::default[1])[last()]


of course, must be:

(preceding-sibling::default[1]    | 
../preceding-sibling::default[1])[last()]




"Dimitre Novatchev" <dimitren@t...> wrote in message 
news:459b1fb3$0$97256$892e7fe2@a......
>> I think I want something like this (in English)...
>>
>> Select the first <default> node that is either a...
>>    previous sibling of the current box,
>>    or a child of an ancestor (that is not my direct parent) of the
>> current box
>>    as long as the matching node comes before the current box.
>>
>
>
> (preceding-sibling::default[1]    | 
> ..\preceding-sibling::default[1])[last()]
>
>
> Cheers,
> Dimitre Novatchev
>
>
> "KW" <kevinw@a...> wrote in message 
> news:1167777226.929900.7370@n......
>> Let's say I have some XML like this...
>>
>> <section>
>>  <default>
>>    <width>100</width>
>>    <height>200</height>
>>  <default>
>>  <group>
>>    <box>Box1</box>
>>    <box>Box2</box>
>>  </group>
>>  <group>
>>    <default>
>>      <width>500</width>
>>      <height>300</height>
>>    <default>
>>    <box>Box3</box>
>>    <box>Box4</box>
>>  </group>
>>  <default>
>>    <width>800</width>
>>    <height>700</height>
>>  <default>
>> </section>
>>
>> And, let's say when processing each box element, I want to use the most
>> "relevant" default width and height when rendering the box in html. So,
>> for Box1 and Box2, the most relevant would be the default settings just
>> beneath the section element, but for Box3 and Box4, the most relevant
>> would be  the default settings just prior to the box elements. The
>> 800/700 values would actually not be used for any of the boxes in this
>> example.
>>
>> I need an XPath expression to select the most relevant "default"
>> element based on the context of the box currently being processed.
>>
>> I think I want something like this (in English)...
>>
>> Select the first <default> node that is either a...
>>    previous sibling of the current box,
>>    or a child of an ancestor (that is not my direct parent) of the
>> current box
>>    as long as the matching node comes before the current box.
>>
>> Basically, I want to let my developers specify default settings at any
>> level, and then override default settings at lower levels, if
>> necessary.
>>
>> I appreciate any help on this!
>>
>> Kevin
>>
>
>