> Shouldn't there be all nodes like the original with 

no because   <xsl:element name="self:name">
makes an element called self:test, at least it would if self were
declared as a namespace prefix. As it is, your stylesheet seems to be in
error, which processor did you use?

sounds like you want

<xsl:template match="*">
<xsl:copy>
<xsl:copy-of select="@*"/>
<xsl:attribute name="VERSION"><xsl:value-of select="$version"/></xsl:attribute>
</xsl:apply-templates>
</xsl:copy>
</xsl:template>


(untested)

David


 XSL-List info and archive:  http://www.mulberrytech.com/xsl/xsl-list