> Why do I get in version a even numbers 2, 4, 6, ... ?


Modify your template like so:


   <xsl:template match="item">
      <xsl:variable name="x"  select="position()"/>
      <xsl:value-of select="
       concat('(',preceding-sibling::node()[position() = $x -1],')')"/>
      <xsl:call-template name="output-position"/>
   </xsl:template>

and you will see what is contained in the nodes at odd positions.

The current node list in the xsl:for-all case is different and only
contains the item nodes (as that is what you selected) so in that case
the items are in positions 1, 2, 3.


David


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