Since your data already seems to be grouped correctly, this shouldn't be
too difficult. You need to write a function that computes the dimensions
of RectA1 based on the contents of the first BlockA element. It's hard
to give you the code for this because you haven't said anything about
the algorithm you want to use. But the key to it is to think in terms of
functions: how can you express the size of the rectangle as a function
of its textual contents? For example, is it as simple as saying that the
width of the rectangle is X times the number of characters in the
longest line, and the height is Y times the number of lines?

Michael Kay
Software AG
home: Michael.H.Kay@xxxxxxxxxxxx
work: Michael.Kay@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx 

> -----Original Message-----
> From: owner-xsl-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx 
> [mailto:owner-xsl-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of 
> Harry J. Foxwell
> Sent: 30 June 2002 22:31
> To: xsl-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> Subject: [xsl] XSLT/SVG variables question
> 
> 
> 
> I'm not quite convinced of 'Assignment Considered
> Harmful' (Kay, Chap 9) since I can't figure out how to solve 
> my XSLT/SVG problem without good ol' x=x+y constructs.
> 
> My general problem is to create SVG rectangles with text
> inside (line numbers included for reference) using XML data and XSLT:
> 
> 01
> 02   RectA1                  RectA2
> 03   +--------------+        +--------------+
> 04   | string-A1a   |        | string-A2a   |
> 05   | string-A1b   +--------+ string-A2b   |
> 06   | ...          |        | string-A2c   |
> 07   +------+-------+        | ...          |
> 08          |                +--------------+
> 09          |
> 10          |
> 11          |
> 12   RectB1 |
> 13   +------+-------+
> 14   | string-B1a   |
> 15   | string-B1b   |
> 16   | ...          |
> 17   +--------------+
> 
> My XML data generically look something like this:
> 
>         <BlockA>
>         <string>string-A1a</string>
>         <string>string-A1b</string>
>         ...
>         </BlockA>
>         <BlockA>
>         <string>string-A2a</string>
>         <string>string-A2b</string>
>         <string>string-A2c</string>
>         ...
>         </BlockA>
>         <BlockB>
>         <string>string-B1a</string>
>         <string>string-B1b</string>
>         ...
>         </BlockB>
>         ...
> 
> As the block chart is built, I need to account for arbitrary 
> number of strings per block and number of blocks.  "Normal" 
> variables would let me compute and increment SVG coordinates 
> for the rectangles and text.  But XSLT variables aren't normal!
> 
> If you have any suggestions about how I should track the 
> coordinates, or better yet an example, that would be helpful.
> 
> Thanks!
> Harry Foxwell
> 
> 
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> 


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