> >To test if the element exists and is non-empty:
> >
> ><xsl:template match="book">
> ><xsl:if test="string(author)">
> 
> Does this form of the test work for elements that only contain other 
> elements (i.e. no text nodes)? 

No. To test that the element exists and has text and/or element content:

<xsl:if test="author/* or author/text()">

Mike 


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