Re: [xml] XPath question

[Igor Zlatkovic <igor zlatkovic com>]

On 04/08/04 19:26, Jesse Pelton wrote:
> I think the operative thing here is, "Assuming foo is mapped to your
> namespace name in the XPath context."  I probably should have mentioned
> in my posting that I came up with my expression to deal with
> environments where there was no mechanism to establish such mappings
> other than by including a namespace prefix in the instance document.  As
> far as I can see, XPath 1.0 does not specify such a mechanism, but
> libxml does, of course.  So, my posting was not completely relevant to
> this list.  I was excited to find a solution (even if inefficient) to a
> real problem that I had; I hope I can be forgiven for choosing the wrong
> forum to share it!

Peace. There is a misunderstanding here. You think you have solved the 
problem, I think you just hid it with another, ending up with two.

Whoever produces XML of the sort

  ...
  <a xmlns="foo">
    <n/>
  </a>
  <a xmlns="bar">
    <n/>
  </a>
  ...

should be made aware of the fact that the thing cannot be processed 
efficiently. Using namespace prefixes solves this without changing 
anything about the data the document contains.

Sure, it is customer's document, you have no control of it. If so, you 
are giving the customer an ill service if you let her get away with it. 
I cannot speak for everyone, but I'll appreciate an advice about my 
wrongdoing far more than silence and an inneficient workaround.

Peace now?

Ciao,
Igor