I just learned about the -- very old and long-existing, but I never
had to use it -- function starts-with() by browsing Michael Kays
wonderful (and heavy) Reference ("The Book").

I guess you want something like

count(.//entry[contains(@aid5:cellstyle, 'tbody_cell')])

- Michael

PS: This just checks for "contains" and not "begins with".

<xsl:value-of select="count(.//entry[starts-with(@aid5:cellstyle,
'tbody_cell')])"/>

<xsl:template match="entry[starts-with(@aid5:cellstyle, 'tbody_cell')]">
</xsl:template>

In your original post you mention looking for ;contains or starts-
with+. Since starts-with is a subset of contains, there is no use of
checking both. You either want contains() or you want starts-with().

<table>
<thead>
<entry aid5:cellstyle=tbody_cell">
<para>xxx</para>
</entry>
<entry aid5:cellstyle=tbody_cell">
<para>xxx</para>
</entry><entry aid5:cellstyle=tbody_cell_l">
<para>xxx</para>
</entry><entry aid5:cellstyle=tbody_cell_l">
<para>xxx</para>
</entry>
</thead>
</table>

All I am trying to do is while in <table> trying to count the nos
entry
whose @aid5:cellstyle contains or starts-with tbody_cell.

Believe me I've used these functions lots of time mostly with
nodes, but
nothings seems to be working with attributes. May be I never tested
"attribute values" with these functions.

Any clue will be highly appreciated.

--
_______________________________________________________________
Michael M|ller-Hillebrand: Dokumentation Technology
Adobe Certified Expert, FrameMaker
Consulting and Training, FrameScript, XML/XSL, Unicode
Blog [de]: http://cap-studio.de/