> it doesn't work (the document won't parse anymore). Is there 
> something I have misunderstood about where you can and cannot call a 
> variable?

Yes, you can't use variables in match expressions.

It isn't clear what you are trying to do.
If 
table_name=<xsl:value-of select="$table_name" />

produces

table_name=abc

Did you intend 

<xsl:template match="$table_name">

to act like

<xsl:template match="abc">

or

<xsl:template match="/page/@table_name">

David

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