Re: [Xmlstar-devel] c14n xpath

[Mikhail G. <mgr...@co...>]

There is no such thing as defining namespace in XPath expression itself.
There are some XPath functions local-name(), name() which can help you to
work with prefixes,
but the truth is: namespace is identified by its URI portion, that is why
you have to define bindings
prefix-URI for XPath.


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Keith Beattie" <KSB...@lb...>
To: "Shaun McCance" <sh...@gn...>
Cc: <xml...@li...>
Sent: Friday, October 17, 2003 5:09 AM
Subject: Re: [Xmlstar-devel] c14n xpath


> Well, I'm having trouble finding an introductory reference on xpath that
> includes namespaces (I generally try to avoid starting with the spec but
> it appears I don't have much of a choice here).  But in the meantime...
>
> Shaun McCance wrote:
> > The XPath expression isn't part of the XML document, so the namespace
> > declarations in the XML document are irrelevant to the XPath expression.
> > The prefix-namespace association has to be given to the XPath processor
> > for a namespace prefix in an XPath to mean anything.
>
> Seems to me that the same be said about any element or attribute name.
>
> > You might wonder why an XPath processor can't just look at the prefixes
> > used in the XML file and use the same ones.
>
> *Exactly* what I'm wondering!
>
> >  Here's an example:
> >
> > <foo:foo xmlns:foo="http://example.com/foo">
> >   <foo:bar/>
> >   <foo:bar xmlns:foo="http://example.com/foobar"/>
> > </foo:foo>
> >
> > What would the XPath expression //foo:bar select?
>
> I guess I'd expect both foo:bar elements:
>
> <foo:bar/>
> <foo:bar xmlns:foo="http://example.com/foobar"/>
>
> Which means that I'm assuming the absence of a namespace specification
> means 'any namespace'.  Bad assumption on my part apparently... :)
>
> So is it possible to provide these prefix-namespace associations in the
> xpath expression itself?  And not pass it in via (what appears to be the
> out-of-band method of) the XPath element?  For example, rather than:
>
> <XPath xmlns:foo="http://example.com/foo">
> //foo:bar
> </XPath>
>
> something like:
>
> <XPath>
> //foo:bar[ns::xmlns:foo="http://example.com/foo">
> </XPath>
>
> even though I know that's not the proper syntax.  (I ask because I'm
> working with another xpath implementation (in python) and using xmlstar
> as a reference.)
>
> Thanks so much for your time.
> ksb
>
>
>
>
> -------------------------------------------------------
> This SF.net email is sponsored by: SF.net Giveback Program.
> SourceForge.net hosts over 70,000 Open Source Projects.
> See the people who have HELPED US provide better services:
> Click here: http://sourceforge.net/supporters.php
> _______________________________________________
> xmlstar-devel mailing list
> xml...@li...
> https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/xmlstar-devel


---
Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free.
Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).
Version: 6.0.525 / Virus Database: 322 - Release Date: 10/9/2003