Webmaster in a Nutshell, Second Edition

Name

<xsl:choose>

Synopsis

<xsl:choose>...</xsl:choose>

Description

The <xsl:choose> element, in conjunction with the <xsl:when> and <xsl:otherwise> elements, offers the ability to perform multiple condition tests. For example:

<xsl:template match="chapter/title" >
  <xsl:choose>
    <xsl:when test=".[first-of-type()]">
        Start Here:
    </xsl:when>
    <xsl:otherwise>
        Then Read:
    </xsl:otherwise>
  </xsl:choose>
  <xsl:apply-templates/>
</xsl:template>

This example matches against each of the qualifying <title> elements, but it must test each <title> element to determine how to format it. Here, the formatting used depends on whether the element is the first of its type or not. If it is, it applies the letters “Start Here:” before the first <title> element. Otherwise, the letters “Then Read: " are placed before the others.