> If I define a global variable, how can I pass it to a template,

declare a paramater to the template and pass the value (which can be the
value of your variable) as a paramanter using xsl:with-param.

>  change it within the template,

XSL is a side effect free language, you don't change the values
of variables.

> and be able to access the new value for the variable after the
> template processing is complete ? 

since the value will be the same after the template call as before
you can just use $variablename in the usual way.

David


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