> -----Original Message-----
> From: owner-xsl-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx 
> [mailto:owner-xsl-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of 
> Nikolas Nehmer
> Sent: 22 January 2004 09:20
> To: xsl-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> Subject:  check for optional element
> 
> 
> Hi,
> 
> I want to check if an optional element is present in my XML 
> document and 
> if so I want to react to this fact. 

Write an XPath expression that selects the element if it is present and
returns an empty node-set if not. Then use this expression in a boolean
context, for example (if the context node is the parent of the optional
element):

<xsl:if test="optional-element">

Michael Kay


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