Martin Honnen wrote:
> tshad wrote:
>
>> It seems that only the 1st template is the driving template, similar
>> to Main() in C or the startup function in any program.  If I don't
>> call any other function, from a startup function then only the
>> startup function gets executed even if there there are other
>> functions in my program (discounting events, of course).
>>
>> In XSLT, it seems that the 1st template is like your startup routine.
>
> No, processing does not start at the first template. Processing starts
> at the root node (document node) of your primary XML input document,
> see <URL:http://www.w3.org/TR/xslt#section-Processing-Model>. Then
> the best matching template is used and its content determines which
> nodes are processed next. And there is a built-in template
> (<URL:http://www.w3.org/TR/xslt#built-in-rule>)
>   <xsl:template match="*|/">
>     <xsl:apply-templates/>
>   </xsl:template>
> which makes sure the child nodes of the root node are processed.
> So in your sample XML input the above built-in template is the first
> template to be applied, then the child nodes of the root node
> (document node) are processed which is the 'REPORT' element. As you
> have a matching template for 'REPORT' elements that template is
> applied. And the xsl:apply-templates in that template determine which
> nodes are processed next, and pattern matching determines which
> templates are applied to these nodes.

That makes sense.

But then what is happening as to the use of "/*" vs "/" vs "REPORT" in my
first template line.

Both "/*" and "REPORT" give me the same results.  But if I have "/" and
<xsl:copy>, I don't get a root tag.  If I do "/" and "<REPORTING> (in place
of the <xsl:copy>), it works fine with <REPORTING> as my root tag.

It seems the "/" drops the root node (with copy) and "/*" (with copy) uses 
the existing root node.

I assume the reason "/" and <REPORT> work is because "/" is dropping the 
root (document) node but I am supplying my own.

<xsl:template match="/">
  <xsl:copy>

doesn't work (missing root node)

<xsl:template match="/">
  <REPORT>

works - I assume because I am supplying the root node.

<xsl:template match="/*">
  <xsl:copy>

don't know why that doesn't work.

Thanks,

Tom