Hi;
I am sure I am missing something here but I cannot figure it out. Below I
have a program and I cannot figure out why the xpath selects that throw an
exception fail. From what I know they should work.
Also the second nav.OuterXml appears to also be wrong to me.
Can someone explain to me why this does not work? (This is an example from a
program we have where xpath can be entered in two parts so we have to be able
to handle this. We can't just always require the fill
/order/product[.='software'].)
Program below sig.
--
thanks - dave
david_at_windwa rd_dot_net http://www.windwardreports.com
Program.cs:
using System.Xml;
using System.Xml.XPat h;
using System;
using System.IO;
namespace XPathSample
{
class Program
{
static void Main(string[] args)
{
string xml =
"<order>" +
"<product>softw are</product>" +
"<product>softw are</product>" +
"</order>";
XPathDocument doc = new XPathDocument(n ew StringReader(xm l));
// this works
XPathNavigator nav = doc.CreateNavig ator();
XPathNavigator rtn = nav.SelectSingl eNode("/order/product[.='software']");
Console.Out.Wri teLine("nav(/) = " + nav.OuterXml);
Console.Out.Wri teLine("/order/product[.='software'] = " + rtn.OuterXml);
// this works although the nav.OuterXml appears wrong
nav = nav.SelectSingl eNode("/order");
rtn = nav.SelectSingl eNode("product[.='software']");
Console.Out.Wri teLine("nav(/order) = " + nav.OuterXml);
Console.Out.Wri teLine("product[.='software'] = " + rtn.OuterXml);
// this works (same as prev)
rtn = nav.SelectSingl eNode("./product[.='software']");
Console.Out.Wri teLine("./product[.='software'] = " + rtn.OuterXml);
nav = nav.SelectSingl eNode("product" );
Console.Out.Wri teLine("nav(/order/product) = " + nav.OuterXml);
// these all fail - WHY?
try
{
rtn = nav.SelectSingl eNode("[.='software']");
}
catch (XPathException ex)
{
Console.Out.Wri teLine("[.='software'] exception = " + ex.Message);
}
try
{
rtn = nav.SelectSingl eNode("./[.='software']");
}
catch (XPathException ex)
{
Console.Out.Wri teLine("./[.='software'] exception = " + ex.Message);
}
// yes this works - but I need the node as it does have a value.
object obj = nav.Evaluate(". ='software'");
Console.Out.Wri teLine(".='soft ware' evaluate = " + obj);
Console.Out.Wri teLine("all done");
}
}
} 9  2133 
> // these all fail - WHY?
because of a common feature -- they all have invalid XPath syntax. try
{
rtn = nav.SelectSingl eNode("[.='software']");
}
catch (XPathException ex)
{
Console.Out.Wri teLine("[.='software'] exception = " + ex.Message);
}
try
{
rtn = nav.SelectSingl eNode("./[.='software']");
}
catch (XPathException ex)
{
Console.Out.Wri teLine("./[.='software'] exception = " + ex.Message);
}
// yes this works - but I need the node as it does have a value.
object obj = nav.Evaluate(". ='software'");
Console.Out.Wri teLine(".='soft ware' evaluate = " + obj);
Try:
"self::*[.='software']"
or
"string(sel f::*[.='software'])"
depending on whether you need the node or its string value returned.
Cheers,
Dimitre Novatchev
"David Thielen" <da***@bogus.wi ndward.net> wrote in message
news:74******** *************** ***********@mic rosoft.com... Hi;
I am sure I am missing something here but I cannot figure it out. Below I
have a program and I cannot figure out why the xpath selects that throw an
exception fail. From what I know they should work.
Also the second nav.OuterXml appears to also be wrong to me.
Can someone explain to me why this does not work? (This is an example from
a
program we have where xpath can be entered in two parts so we have to be
able
to handle this. We can't just always require the fill
/order/product[.='software'].)
Program below sig.
--
thanks - dave
david_at_windwa rd_dot_net
http://www.windwardreports.com
Program.cs:
using System.Xml;
using System.Xml.XPat h;
using System;
using System.IO;
namespace XPathSample
{
class Program
{
static void Main(string[] args)
{
string xml =
"<order>" +
"<product>softw are</product>" +
"<product>softw are</product>" +
"</order>";
XPathDocument doc = new XPathDocument(n ew StringReader(xm l));
// this works
XPathNavigator nav = doc.CreateNavig ator();
XPathNavigator rtn = nav.SelectSingl eNode("/order/product[.='software']");
Console.Out.Wri teLine("nav(/) = " + nav.OuterXml);
Console.Out.Wri teLine("/order/product[.='software'] = " + rtn.OuterXml);
// this works although the nav.OuterXml appears wrong
nav = nav.SelectSingl eNode("/order");
rtn = nav.SelectSingl eNode("product[.='software']");
Console.Out.Wri teLine("nav(/order) = " + nav.OuterXml);
Console.Out.Wri teLine("product[.='software'] = " + rtn.OuterXml);
// this works (same as prev)
rtn = nav.SelectSingl eNode("./product[.='software']");
Console.Out.Wri teLine("./product[.='software'] = " + rtn.OuterXml);
nav = nav.SelectSingl eNode("product" );
Console.Out.Wri teLine("nav(/order/product) = " + nav.OuterXml);
// these all fail - WHY?
try
{
rtn = nav.SelectSingl eNode("[.='software']");
}
catch (XPathException ex)
{
Console.Out.Wri teLine("[.='software'] exception = " + ex.Message);
}
try
{
rtn = nav.SelectSingl eNode("./[.='software']");
}
catch (XPathException ex)
{
Console.Out.Wri teLine("./[.='software'] exception = " + ex.Message);
}
// yes this works - but I need the node as it does have a value.
object obj = nav.Evaluate(". ='software'");
Console.Out.Wri teLine(".='soft ware' evaluate = " + obj);
Console.Out.Wri teLine("all done");
}
}
}
Hello;
I assumed it is invalid syntax. My question is why? I don't understand why
"[.='software']" or some variation of that is invalid.
--
thanks - dave
david_at_windwa rd_dot_net http://www.windwardreports.com
"Dimitre Novatchev" wrote: // these all fail - WHY?
because of a common feature -- they all have invalid XPath syntax.
try
{
rtn = nav.SelectSingl eNode("[.='software']");
}
catch (XPathException ex)
{
Console.Out.Wri teLine("[.='software'] exception = " + ex.Message);
}
try
{
rtn = nav.SelectSingl eNode("./[.='software']");
}
catch (XPathException ex)
{
Console.Out.Wri teLine("./[.='software'] exception = " + ex.Message);
}
// yes this works - but I need the node as it does have a value.
object obj = nav.Evaluate(". ='software'");
Console.Out.Wri teLine(".='soft ware' evaluate = " + obj);
Try:
"self::*[.='software']"
or
"string(sel f::*[.='software'])"
depending on whether you need the node or its string value returned.
Cheers,
Dimitre Novatchev
"David Thielen" <da***@bogus.wi ndward.net> wrote in message
news:74******** *************** ***********@mic rosoft.com... Hi;
I am sure I am missing something here but I cannot figure it out. Below I
have a program and I cannot figure out why the xpath selects that throw an
exception fail. From what I know they should work.
Also the second nav.OuterXml appears to also be wrong to me.
Can someone explain to me why this does not work? (This is an example from
a
program we have where xpath can be entered in two parts so we have to be
able
to handle this. We can't just always require the fill
/order/product[.='software'].)
Program below sig.
--
thanks - dave
david_at_windwa rd_dot_net
http://www.windwardreports.com
Program.cs:
using System.Xml;
using System.Xml.XPat h;
using System;
using System.IO;
namespace XPathSample
{
class Program
{
static void Main(string[] args)
{
string xml =
"<order>" +
"<product>softw are</product>" +
"<product>softw are</product>" +
"</order>";
XPathDocument doc = new XPathDocument(n ew StringReader(xm l));
// this works
XPathNavigator nav = doc.CreateNavig ator();
XPathNavigator rtn = nav.SelectSingl eNode("/order/product[.='software']");
Console.Out.Wri teLine("nav(/) = " + nav.OuterXml);
Console.Out.Wri teLine("/order/product[.='software'] = " + rtn.OuterXml);
// this works although the nav.OuterXml appears wrong
nav = nav.SelectSingl eNode("/order");
rtn = nav.SelectSingl eNode("product[.='software']");
Console.Out.Wri teLine("nav(/order) = " + nav.OuterXml);
Console.Out.Wri teLine("product[.='software'] = " + rtn.OuterXml);
// this works (same as prev)
rtn = nav.SelectSingl eNode("./product[.='software']");
Console.Out.Wri teLine("./product[.='software'] = " + rtn.OuterXml);
nav = nav.SelectSingl eNode("product" );
Console.Out.Wri teLine("nav(/order/product) = " + nav.OuterXml);
// these all fail - WHY?
try
{
rtn = nav.SelectSingl eNode("[.='software']");
}
catch (XPathException ex)
{
Console.Out.Wri teLine("[.='software'] exception = " + ex.Message);
}
try
{
rtn = nav.SelectSingl eNode("./[.='software']");
}
catch (XPathException ex)
{
Console.Out.Wri teLine("./[.='software'] exception = " + ex.Message);
}
// yes this works - but I need the node as it does have a value.
object obj = nav.Evaluate(". ='software'");
Console.Out.Wri teLine(".='soft ware' evaluate = " + obj);
Console.Out.Wri teLine("all done");
}
}
}
"David Thielen" <da***@bogus.wi ndward.net> wrote in message
news:24******** *************** ***********@mic rosoft.com... Hello;
I assumed it is invalid syntax. My question is why? I don't understand why
"[.='software']" or some variation of that is invalid.
Read the XPath 1.0 Spec.
It says:
http://www.w3.org/TR/xpath#predicates
"A predicate filters a node-set with respect to an axis to produce a new
node-set. For each node in the node-set to be filtered, the PredicateExpr is
evaluated with that node as the context node, with the number of nodes in
the node-set as the context size, and with the proximity position of the
node in the node-set with respect to the axis as the context position; if
PredicateExpr evaluates to true for that node, the node is included in the
new node-set; otherwise, it is not included."
So, a predicate can only apear after some XPath expression and filters it. A
predicate, alone, is not a valid XPath expression.
This is also made clear if we look at the BNF grammar definition of XPath
1.0. Of all rules only rule [4] and rule [20] contain the nonterminal symbol
predicate and it is always not the leading symbol (of the RHS):
http://www.w3.org/TR/xpath#section-Location-Steps
[4] Step ::= AxisSpecifier NodeTest Predicate*
| AbbreviatedStep
http://www.w3.org/TR/xpath#node-sets
[20] FilterExpr ::= PrimaryExpr
| FilterExpr Predicate
I hope that this answers completely your question.
Cheers,
Dimitre Novatchev
--
thanks - dave
david_at_windwa rd_dot_net
http://www.windwardreports.com
"Dimitre Novatchev" wrote:
> // these all fail - WHY?
because of a common feature -- they all have invalid XPath syntax.
> try
> {
> rtn = nav.SelectSingl eNode("[.='software']");
> }
> catch (XPathException ex)
> {
> Console.Out.Wri teLine("[.='software'] exception = " + ex.Message);
> }
> try
> {
> rtn = nav.SelectSingl eNode("./[.='software']");
> }
> catch (XPathException ex)
> {
> Console.Out.Wri teLine("./[.='software'] exception = " + ex.Message);
> }
>
> // yes this works - but I need the node as it does have a value.
> object obj = nav.Evaluate(". ='software'");
> Console.Out.Wri teLine(".='soft ware' evaluate = " + obj);
Try:
"self::*[.='software']"
or
"string(sel f::*[.='software'])"
depending on whether you need the node or its string value returned.
Cheers,
Dimitre Novatchev
"David Thielen" <da***@bogus.wi ndward.net> wrote in message
news:74******** *************** ***********@mic rosoft.com... > Hi;
>
> I am sure I am missing something here but I cannot figure it out. Below
> I
> have a program and I cannot figure out why the xpath selects that throw
> an
> exception fail. From what I know they should work.
>
> Also the second nav.OuterXml appears to also be wrong to me.
>
> Can someone explain to me why this does not work? (This is an example
> from
> a
> program we have where xpath can be entered in two parts so we have to
> be
> able
> to handle this. We can't just always require the fill
> /order/product[.='software'].)
>
> Program below sig.
>
> --
> thanks - dave
> david_at_windwa rd_dot_net
> http://www.windwardreports.com
>
> Program.cs:
> using System.Xml;
> using System.Xml.XPat h;
> using System;
> using System.IO;
>
> namespace XPathSample
> {
> class Program
> {
> static void Main(string[] args)
> {
>
> string xml =
> "<order>" +
> "<product>softw are</product>" +
> "<product>softw are</product>" +
> "</order>";
> XPathDocument doc = new XPathDocument(n ew StringReader(xm l));
>
> // this works
> XPathNavigator nav = doc.CreateNavig ator();
> XPathNavigator rtn =
> nav.SelectSingl eNode("/order/product[.='software']");
> Console.Out.Wri teLine("nav(/) = " + nav.OuterXml);
> Console.Out.Wri teLine("/order/product[.='software'] = " +
> rtn.OuterXml);
>
> // this works although the nav.OuterXml appears wrong
> nav = nav.SelectSingl eNode("/order");
> rtn = nav.SelectSingl eNode("product[.='software']");
> Console.Out.Wri teLine("nav(/order) = " + nav.OuterXml);
> Console.Out.Wri teLine("product[.='software'] = " + rtn.OuterXml);
>
> // this works (same as prev)
> rtn = nav.SelectSingl eNode("./product[.='software']");
> Console.Out.Wri teLine("./product[.='software'] = " + rtn.OuterXml);
>
> nav = nav.SelectSingl eNode("product" );
> Console.Out.Wri teLine("nav(/order/product) = " + nav.OuterXml);
>
> // these all fail - WHY?
> try
> {
> rtn = nav.SelectSingl eNode("[.='software']");
> }
> catch (XPathException ex)
> {
> Console.Out.Wri teLine("[.='software'] exception = " + ex.Message);
> }
> try
> {
> rtn = nav.SelectSingl eNode("./[.='software']");
> }
> catch (XPathException ex)
> {
> Console.Out.Wri teLine("./[.='software'] exception = " + ex.Message);
> }
>
> // yes this works - but I need the node as it does have a value.
> object obj = nav.Evaluate(". ='software'");
> Console.Out.Wri teLine(".='soft ware' evaluate = " + obj);
>
>
> Console.Out.Wri teLine("all done");
> }
> }
> }
>
>
Hi;
First, thanks for helping on this I really appreciate it.
Ok, I see that the xpath must start with "." to get it to the node and the
"[...]" then modifies that - makes sense.
But then, shouldn't ".[.='software']" or "./.[.='software']" or
"./[.='software']" work.
In the case of ".[.='software']" isn't that saying start with the node "."
(which exists) and then return all where .='software'?
--
thanks - dave
david_at_windwa rd_dot_net http://www.windwardreports.com
"Dimitre Novatchev" wrote:
"David Thielen" <da***@bogus.wi ndward.net> wrote in message
news:24******** *************** ***********@mic rosoft.com... Hello;
I assumed it is invalid syntax. My question is why? I don't understand why
"[.='software']" or some variation of that is invalid.
Read the XPath 1.0 Spec.
It says:
http://www.w3.org/TR/xpath#predicates
"A predicate filters a node-set with respect to an axis to produce a new
node-set. For each node in the node-set to be filtered, the PredicateExpr is
evaluated with that node as the context node, with the number of nodes in
the node-set as the context size, and with the proximity position of the
node in the node-set with respect to the axis as the context position; if
PredicateExpr evaluates to true for that node, the node is included in the
new node-set; otherwise, it is not included."
So, a predicate can only apear after some XPath expression and filters it. A
predicate, alone, is not a valid XPath expression.
This is also made clear if we look at the BNF grammar definition of XPath
1.0. Of all rules only rule [4] and rule [20] contain the nonterminal symbol
predicate and it is always not the leading symbol (of the RHS):
http://www.w3.org/TR/xpath#section-Location-Steps
[4] Step ::= AxisSpecifier NodeTest Predicate*
| AbbreviatedStep
http://www.w3.org/TR/xpath#node-sets
[20] FilterExpr ::= PrimaryExpr
| FilterExpr Predicate
I hope that this answers completely your question.
Cheers,
Dimitre Novatchev
--
thanks - dave
david_at_windwa rd_dot_net
http://www.windwardreports.com
"Dimitre Novatchev" wrote:
> // these all fail - WHY?
because of a common feature -- they all have invalid XPath syntax.
> try
> {
> rtn = nav.SelectSingl eNode("[.='software']");
> }
> catch (XPathException ex)
> {
> Console.Out.Wri teLine("[.='software'] exception = " + ex.Message);
> }
> try
> {
> rtn = nav.SelectSingl eNode("./[.='software']");
> }
> catch (XPathException ex)
> {
> Console.Out.Wri teLine("./[.='software'] exception = " + ex.Message);
> }
>
> // yes this works - but I need the node as it does have a value.
> object obj = nav.Evaluate(". ='software'");
> Console.Out.Wri teLine(".='soft ware' evaluate = " + obj);
Try:
"self::*[.='software']"
or
"string(sel f::*[.='software'])"
depending on whether you need the node or its string value returned.
Cheers,
Dimitre Novatchev
"David Thielen" <da***@bogus.wi ndward.net> wrote in message
news:74******** *************** ***********@mic rosoft.com...
> Hi;
>
> I am sure I am missing something here but I cannot figure it out. Below
> I
> have a program and I cannot figure out why the xpath selects that throw
> an
> exception fail. From what I know they should work.
>
> Also the second nav.OuterXml appears to also be wrong to me.
>
> Can someone explain to me why this does not work? (This is an example
> from
> a
> program we have where xpath can be entered in two parts so we have to
> be
> able
> to handle this. We can't just always require the fill
> /order/product[.='software'].)
>
> Program below sig.
>
> --
> thanks - dave
> david_at_windwa rd_dot_net
> http://www.windwardreports.com
>
> Program.cs:
> using System.Xml;
> using System.Xml.XPat h;
> using System;
> using System.IO;
>
> namespace XPathSample
> {
> class Program
> {
> static void Main(string[] args)
> {
>
> string xml =
> "<order>" +
> "<product>softw are</product>" +
> "<product>softw are</product>" +
> "</order>";
> XPathDocument doc = new XPathDocument(n ew StringReader(xm l));
>
> // this works
> XPathNavigator nav = doc.CreateNavig ator();
> XPathNavigator rtn =
> nav.SelectSingl eNode("/order/product[.='software']");
> Console.Out.Wri teLine("nav(/) = " + nav.OuterXml);
> Console.Out.Wri teLine("/order/product[.='software'] = " +
> rtn.OuterXml);
>
> // this works although the nav.OuterXml appears wrong
> nav = nav.SelectSingl eNode("/order");
> rtn = nav.SelectSingl eNode("product[.='software']");
> Console.Out.Wri teLine("nav(/order) = " + nav.OuterXml);
> Console.Out.Wri teLine("product[.='software'] = " + rtn.OuterXml);
>
> // this works (same as prev)
> rtn = nav.SelectSingl eNode("./product[.='software']");
> Console.Out.Wri teLine("./product[.='software'] = " + rtn.OuterXml);
>
> nav = nav.SelectSingl eNode("product" );
> Console.Out.Wri teLine("nav(/order/product) = " + nav.OuterXml);
>
> // these all fail - WHY?
> try
> {
> rtn = nav.SelectSingl eNode("[.='software']");
> }
> catch (XPathException ex)
> {
> Console.Out.Wri teLine("[.='software'] exception = " + ex.Message);
> }
> try
> {
> rtn = nav.SelectSingl eNode("./[.='software']");
> }
> catch (XPathException ex)
> {
> Console.Out.Wri teLine("./[.='software'] exception = " + ex.Message);
> }
>
> // yes this works - but I need the node as it does have a value.
> object obj = nav.Evaluate(". ='software'");
> Console.Out.Wri teLine(".='soft ware' evaluate = " + obj);
>
>
> Console.Out.Wri teLine("all done");
> }
> }
> }
>
>
"David Thielen" <da***@bogus.wi ndward.net> wrote in message
news:DA******** *************** ***********@mic rosoft.com... Hi;
First, thanks for helping on this I really appreciate it.
Ok, I see that the xpath must start with "." to get it to the node and the
"[...]" then modifies that - makes sense.
But then, shouldn't ".[.='software']" or "./.[.='software']" or
No, the syntax rules do not allow this:
[4] Step ::= AxisSpecifier NodeTest Predicate*
| AbbreviatedStep
as we can see, Predicatecan only occur after a NodeTest , not after an
AbbreviatedStep .
"./[.='software']" work.
Again, Predicate cannot be the leftmost symbol in a step
In the case of ".[.='software']" isn't that saying start with the node "."
(which exists) and then return all where .='software'?
This may seem a clear semantics, but the syntax is invalid according to the
XPath 1.0 grammar rules.
As I said, use:
self::node()[.='software']
Cheers,
Dimitre Novatchev
--
thanks - dave
david_at_windwa rd_dot_net
http://www.windwardreports.com
"Dimitre Novatchev" wrote:
"David Thielen" <da***@bogus.wi ndward.net> wrote in message
news:24******** *************** ***********@mic rosoft.com... > Hello;
>
> I assumed it is invalid syntax. My question is why? I don't understand
> why
> "[.='software']" or some variation of that is invalid.
Read the XPath 1.0 Spec.
It says:
http://www.w3.org/TR/xpath#predicates
"A predicate filters a node-set with respect to an axis to produce a new
node-set. For each node in the node-set to be filtered, the PredicateExpr
is
evaluated with that node as the context node, with the number of nodes in
the node-set as the context size, and with the proximity position of the
node in the node-set with respect to the axis as the context position; if
PredicateExpr evaluates to true for that node, the node is included in
the
new node-set; otherwise, it is not included."
So, a predicate can only apear after some XPath expression and filters
it. A
predicate, alone, is not a valid XPath expression.
This is also made clear if we look at the BNF grammar definition of XPath
1.0. Of all rules only rule [4] and rule [20] contain the nonterminal
symbol
predicate and it is always not the leading symbol (of the RHS):
http://www.w3.org/TR/xpath#section-Location-Steps
[4] Step ::= AxisSpecifier NodeTest Predicate*
| AbbreviatedStep
http://www.w3.org/TR/xpath#node-sets
[20] FilterExpr ::= PrimaryExpr
| FilterExpr Predicate
I hope that this answers completely your question.
Cheers,
Dimitre Novatchev
>
> --
> thanks - dave
> david_at_windwa rd_dot_net
> http://www.windwardreports.com
>
>
>
> "Dimitre Novatchev" wrote:
>
>> > // these all fail - WHY?
>>
>> because of a common feature -- they all have invalid XPath syntax.
>>
>> > try
>> > {
>> > rtn = nav.SelectSingl eNode("[.='software']");
>> > }
>> > catch (XPathException ex)
>> > {
>> > Console.Out.Wri teLine("[.='software'] exception = " + ex.Message);
>> > }
>> > try
>> > {
>> > rtn = nav.SelectSingl eNode("./[.='software']");
>> > }
>> > catch (XPathException ex)
>> > {
>> > Console.Out.Wri teLine("./[.='software'] exception = " + ex.Message);
>> > }
>> >
>> > // yes this works - but I need the node as it does have a value.
>> > object obj = nav.Evaluate(". ='software'");
>> > Console.Out.Wri teLine(".='soft ware' evaluate = " + obj);
>>
>>
>> Try:
>>
>> "self::*[.='software']"
>>
>> or
>>
>> "string(sel f::*[.='software'])"
>>
>> depending on whether you need the node or its string value returned.
>>
>>
>> Cheers,
>> Dimitre Novatchev
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> "David Thielen" <da***@bogus.wi ndward.net> wrote in message
>> news:74******** *************** ***********@mic rosoft.com...
>> > Hi;
>> >
>> > I am sure I am missing something here but I cannot figure it out.
>> > Below
>> > I
>> > have a program and I cannot figure out why the xpath selects that
>> > throw
>> > an
>> > exception fail. From what I know they should work.
>> >
>> > Also the second nav.OuterXml appears to also be wrong to me.
>> >
>> > Can someone explain to me why this does not work? (This is an
>> > example
>> > from
>> > a
>> > program we have where xpath can be entered in two parts so we have
>> > to
>> > be
>> > able
>> > to handle this. We can't just always require the fill
>> > /order/product[.='software'].)
>> >
>> > Program below sig.
>> >
>> > --
>> > thanks - dave
>> > david_at_windwa rd_dot_net
>> > http://www.windwardreports.com
>> >
>> > Program.cs:
>> > using System.Xml;
>> > using System.Xml.XPat h;
>> > using System;
>> > using System.IO;
>> >
>> > namespace XPathSample
>> > {
>> > class Program
>> > {
>> > static void Main(string[] args)
>> > {
>> >
>> > string xml =
>> > "<order>" +
>> > "<product>softw are</product>" +
>> > "<product>softw are</product>" +
>> > "</order>";
>> > XPathDocument doc = new XPathDocument(n ew StringReader(xm l));
>> >
>> > // this works
>> > XPathNavigator nav = doc.CreateNavig ator();
>> > XPathNavigator rtn =
>> > nav.SelectSingl eNode("/order/product[.='software']");
>> > Console.Out.Wri teLine("nav(/) = " + nav.OuterXml);
>> > Console.Out.Wri teLine("/order/product[.='software'] = " +
>> > rtn.OuterXml);
>> >
>> > // this works although the nav.OuterXml appears wrong
>> > nav = nav.SelectSingl eNode("/order");
>> > rtn = nav.SelectSingl eNode("product[.='software']");
>> > Console.Out.Wri teLine("nav(/order) = " + nav.OuterXml);
>> > Console.Out.Wri teLine("product[.='software'] = " + rtn.OuterXml);
>> >
>> > // this works (same as prev)
>> > rtn = nav.SelectSingl eNode("./product[.='software']");
>> > Console.Out.Wri teLine("./product[.='software'] = " + rtn.OuterXml);
>> >
>> > nav = nav.SelectSingl eNode("product" );
>> > Console.Out.Wri teLine("nav(/order/product) = " + nav.OuterXml);
>> >
>> > // these all fail - WHY?
>> > try
>> > {
>> > rtn = nav.SelectSingl eNode("[.='software']");
>> > }
>> > catch (XPathException ex)
>> > {
>> > Console.Out.Wri teLine("[.='software'] exception = " + ex.Message);
>> > }
>> > try
>> > {
>> > rtn = nav.SelectSingl eNode("./[.='software']");
>> > }
>> > catch (XPathException ex)
>> > {
>> > Console.Out.Wri teLine("./[.='software'] exception = " + ex.Message);
>> > }
>> >
>> > // yes this works - but I need the node as it does have a value.
>> > object obj = nav.Evaluate(". ='software'");
>> > Console.Out.Wri teLine(".='soft ware' evaluate = " + obj);
>> >
>> >
>> > Console.Out.Wri teLine("all done");
>> > }
>> > }
>> > }
>> >
>> >
>>
>>
>>
Hello;
Is this correct to say:
"/order/software" or "software" in each case is an axis specifier while "."
is an abbreviated step?
I had thought both were a way of specifing a node and therefore were an
axisSpecifier.
Also, any good book(s) or website(s) that explain this, preferably by example?
--
thanks - dave
david_at_windwa rd_dot_net http://www.windwardreports.com
"Dimitre Novatchev" wrote:
"David Thielen" <da***@bogus.wi ndward.net> wrote in message
news:DA******** *************** ***********@mic rosoft.com... Hi;
First, thanks for helping on this I really appreciate it.
Ok, I see that the xpath must start with "." to get it to the node and the
"[...]" then modifies that - makes sense.
But then, shouldn't ".[.='software']" or "./.[.='software']" or
No, the syntax rules do not allow this:
[4] Step ::= AxisSpecifier NodeTest Predicate*
| AbbreviatedStep
as we can see, Predicatecan only occur after a NodeTest , not after an
AbbreviatedStep .
"./[.='software']" work.
Again, Predicate cannot be the leftmost symbol in a step
In the case of ".[.='software']" isn't that saying start with the node "."
(which exists) and then return all where .='software'?
This may seem a clear semantics, but the syntax is invalid according to the
XPath 1.0 grammar rules.
As I said, use:
self::node()[.='software']
Cheers,
Dimitre Novatchev
--
thanks - dave
david_at_windwa rd_dot_net
http://www.windwardreports.com
"Dimitre Novatchev" wrote:
"David Thielen" <da***@bogus.wi ndward.net> wrote in message
news:24******** *************** ***********@mic rosoft.com...
> Hello;
>
> I assumed it is invalid syntax. My question is why? I don't understand
> why
> "[.='software']" or some variation of that is invalid.
Read the XPath 1.0 Spec.
It says:
http://www.w3.org/TR/xpath#predicates
"A predicate filters a node-set with respect to an axis to produce a new
node-set. For each node in the node-set to be filtered, the PredicateExpr
is
evaluated with that node as the context node, with the number of nodes in
the node-set as the context size, and with the proximity position of the
node in the node-set with respect to the axis as the context position; if
PredicateExpr evaluates to true for that node, the node is included in
the
new node-set; otherwise, it is not included."
So, a predicate can only apear after some XPath expression and filters
it. A
predicate, alone, is not a valid XPath expression.
This is also made clear if we look at the BNF grammar definition of XPath
1.0. Of all rules only rule [4] and rule [20] contain the nonterminal
symbol
predicate and it is always not the leading symbol (of the RHS):
http://www.w3.org/TR/xpath#section-Location-Steps
[4] Step ::= AxisSpecifier NodeTest Predicate*
| AbbreviatedStep
http://www.w3.org/TR/xpath#node-sets
[20] FilterExpr ::= PrimaryExpr
| FilterExpr Predicate
I hope that this answers completely your question.
Cheers,
Dimitre Novatchev
>
> --
> thanks - dave
> david_at_windwa rd_dot_net
> http://www.windwardreports.com
>
>
>
> "Dimitre Novatchev" wrote:
>
>> > // these all fail - WHY?
>>
>> because of a common feature -- they all have invalid XPath syntax.
>>
>> > try
>> > {
>> > rtn = nav.SelectSingl eNode("[.='software']");
>> > }
>> > catch (XPathException ex)
>> > {
>> > Console.Out.Wri teLine("[.='software'] exception = " + ex.Message);
>> > }
>> > try
>> > {
>> > rtn = nav.SelectSingl eNode("./[.='software']");
>> > }
>> > catch (XPathException ex)
>> > {
>> > Console.Out.Wri teLine("./[.='software'] exception = " + ex.Message);
>> > }
>> >
>> > // yes this works - but I need the node as it does have a value.
>> > object obj = nav.Evaluate(". ='software'");
>> > Console.Out.Wri teLine(".='soft ware' evaluate = " + obj);
>>
>>
>> Try:
>>
>> "self::*[.='software']"
>>
>> or
>>
>> "string(sel f::*[.='software'])"
>>
>> depending on whether you need the node or its string value returned.
>>
>>
>> Cheers,
>> Dimitre Novatchev
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> "David Thielen" <da***@bogus.wi ndward.net> wrote in message
>> news:74******** *************** ***********@mic rosoft.com...
>> > Hi;
>> >
>> > I am sure I am missing something here but I cannot figure it out.
>> > Below
>> > I
>> > have a program and I cannot figure out why the xpath selects that
>> > throw
>> > an
>> > exception fail. From what I know they should work.
>> >
>> > Also the second nav.OuterXml appears to also be wrong to me.
>> >
>> > Can someone explain to me why this does not work? (This is an
>> > example
>> > from
>> > a
>> > program we have where xpath can be entered in two parts so we have
>> > to
>> > be
>> > able
>> > to handle this. We can't just always require the fill
>> > /order/product[.='software'].)
>> >
>> > Program below sig.
>> >
>> > --
>> > thanks - dave
>> > david_at_windwa rd_dot_net
>> > http://www.windwardreports.com
>> >
>> > Program.cs:
>> > using System.Xml;
>> > using System.Xml.XPat h;
>> > using System;
>> > using System.IO;
>> >
>> > namespace XPathSample
>> > {
>> > class Program
>> > {
>> > static void Main(string[] args)
>> > {
>> >
>> > string xml =
>> > "<order>" +
>> > "<product>softw are</product>" +
>> > "<product>softw are</product>" +
>> > "</order>";
>> > XPathDocument doc = new XPathDocument(n ew StringReader(xm l));
>> >
>> > // this works
>> > XPathNavigator nav = doc.CreateNavig ator();
>> > XPathNavigator rtn =
>> > nav.SelectSingl eNode("/order/product[.='software']");
>> > Console.Out.Wri teLine("nav(/) = " + nav.OuterXml);
>> > Console.Out.Wri teLine("/order/product[.='software'] = " +
>> > rtn.OuterXml);
>> >
>> > // this works although the nav.OuterXml appears wrong
>> > nav = nav.SelectSingl eNode("/order");
>> > rtn = nav.SelectSingl eNode("product[.='software']");
>> > Console.Out.Wri teLine("nav(/order) = " + nav.OuterXml);
>> > Console.Out.Wri teLine("product[.='software'] = " + rtn.OuterXml);
>> >
>> > // this works (same as prev)
>> > rtn = nav.SelectSingl eNode("./product[.='software']");
>> > Console.Out.Wri teLine("./product[.='software'] = " + rtn.OuterXml);
>> >
>> > nav = nav.SelectSingl eNode("product" );
>> > Console.Out.Wri teLine("nav(/order/product) = " + nav.OuterXml);
>> >
>> > // these all fail - WHY?
>> > try
>> > {
>> > rtn = nav.SelectSingl eNode("[.='software']");
>> > }
>> > catch (XPathException ex)
>> > {
>> > Console.Out.Wri teLine("[.='software'] exception = " + ex.Message);
>> > }
>> > try
>> > {
>> > rtn = nav.SelectSingl eNode("./[.='software']");
>> > }
>> > catch (XPathException ex)
>> > {
>> > Console.Out.Wri teLine("./[.='software'] exception = " + ex.Message);
>> > }
>> >
>> > // yes this works - but I need the node as it does have a value.
>> > object obj = nav.Evaluate(". ='software'");
>> > Console.Out.Wri teLine(".='soft ware' evaluate = " + obj);
>> >
>> >
>> > Console.Out.Wri teLine("all done");
>> > }
>> > }
>> > }
>> >
>> >
>>
>>
>>
"David Thielen" <da***@bogus.wi ndward.net> wrote in message
news:2D******** *************** ***********@mic rosoft.com... Hello;
Is this correct to say:
"/order/software" or "software" in each case is an axis specifier
No, Axis specifier can be only a predefined (full) name out of 13 axis names
(see below) or an abbreviated axis specifier (just "@").
while "."
is an abbreviated step?
I had thought both were a way of specifing a node and therefore were an
axisSpecifier.
No.
The rules from the spec:
[5] AxisSpecifier ::= AxisName '::'
| AbbreviatedAxis Specifier
[6] AxisName ::= 'ancestor'
| 'ancestor-or-self'
| 'attribute'
| 'child'
| 'descendant'
| 'descendant-or-self'
| 'following'
| 'following-sibling'
| 'namespace'
| 'parent'
| 'preceding'
| 'preceding-sibling'
| 'self'
[13] AbbreviatedAxis Specifier ::= '@'?
Also, any good book(s) or website(s) that explain this, preferably by
example?
Michael Kay's books on XSLT 1.0, XSLT 2.0 and XPath 2.0
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/186...lance&n=283155
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/076...lance&n=283155
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/076...lance&n=283155
Jeni Tennison's books on the same topics.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/159...lance&n=283155
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/076...lance&n=283155
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/159...lance&n=283155
Hope this helped.
Cheers,
Dimitre Novatchev.
--
thanks - dave
david_at_windwa rd_dot_net
http://www.windwardreports.com
"Dimitre Novatchev" wrote:
"David Thielen" <da***@bogus.wi ndward.net> wrote in message
news:DA******** *************** ***********@mic rosoft.com... > Hi;
>
> First, thanks for helping on this I really appreciate it.
>
> Ok, I see that the xpath must start with "." to get it to the node and
> the
> "[...]" then modifies that - makes sense.
>
> But then, shouldn't ".[.='software']" or "./.[.='software']" or
No, the syntax rules do not allow this:
>> [4] Step ::= AxisSpecifier NodeTest Predicate*
>> | AbbreviatedStep
as we can see, Predicatecan only occur after a NodeTest , not after an
AbbreviatedStep .
> "./[.='software']" work.
Again, Predicate cannot be the leftmost symbol in a step
>
> In the case of ".[.='software']" isn't that saying start with the node
> "."
> (which exists) and then return all where .='software'?
This may seem a clear semantics, but the syntax is invalid according to
the
XPath 1.0 grammar rules.
As I said, use:
self::node()[.='software']
Cheers,
Dimitre Novatchev
>
> --
> thanks - dave
> david_at_windwa rd_dot_net
> http://www.windwardreports.com
>
>
>
> "Dimitre Novatchev" wrote:
>
>>
>> "David Thielen" <da***@bogus.wi ndward.net> wrote in message
>> news:24******** *************** ***********@mic rosoft.com...
>> > Hello;
>> >
>> > I assumed it is invalid syntax. My question is why? I don't
>> > understand
>> > why
>> > "[.='software']" or some variation of that is invalid.
>>
>> Read the XPath 1.0 Spec.
>>
>> It says:
>>
>> http://www.w3.org/TR/xpath#predicates
>>
>> "A predicate filters a node-set with respect to an axis to produce a
>> new
>> node-set. For each node in the node-set to be filtered, the
>> PredicateExpr
>> is
>> evaluated with that node as the context node, with the number of nodes
>> in
>> the node-set as the context size, and with the proximity position of
>> the
>> node in the node-set with respect to the axis as the context position;
>> if
>> PredicateExpr evaluates to true for that node, the node is included in
>> the
>> new node-set; otherwise, it is not included."
>>
>>
>>
>> So, a predicate can only apear after some XPath expression and filters
>> it. A
>> predicate, alone, is not a valid XPath expression.
>>
>> This is also made clear if we look at the BNF grammar definition of
>> XPath
>> 1.0. Of all rules only rule [4] and rule [20] contain the nonterminal
>> symbol
>> predicate and it is always not the leading symbol (of the RHS):
>>
>>
>>
>> http://www.w3.org/TR/xpath#section-Location-Steps
>>
>>
>> [4] Step ::= AxisSpecifier NodeTest Predicate*
>> | AbbreviatedStep
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> http://www.w3.org/TR/xpath#node-sets
>>
>>
>>
>> [20] FilterExpr ::= PrimaryExpr
>> | FilterExpr Predicate
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> I hope that this answers completely your question.
>>
>>
>> Cheers,
>> Dimitre Novatchev
>>
>>
>>
>> >
>> > --
>> > thanks - dave
>> > david_at_windwa rd_dot_net
>> > http://www.windwardreports.com
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> > "Dimitre Novatchev" wrote:
>> >
>> >> > // these all fail - WHY?
>> >>
>> >> because of a common feature -- they all have invalid XPath syntax.
>> >>
>> >> > try
>> >> > {
>> >> > rtn = nav.SelectSingl eNode("[.='software']");
>> >> > }
>> >> > catch (XPathException ex)
>> >> > {
>> >> > Console.Out.Wri teLine("[.='software'] exception = " +
>> >> > ex.Message);
>> >> > }
>> >> > try
>> >> > {
>> >> > rtn = nav.SelectSingl eNode("./[.='software']");
>> >> > }
>> >> > catch (XPathException ex)
>> >> > {
>> >> > Console.Out.Wri teLine("./[.='software'] exception = " +
>> >> > ex.Message);
>> >> > }
>> >> >
>> >> > // yes this works - but I need the node as it does have a value.
>> >> > object obj = nav.Evaluate(". ='software'");
>> >> > Console.Out.Wri teLine(".='soft ware' evaluate = " + obj);
>> >>
>> >>
>> >> Try:
>> >>
>> >> "self::*[.='software']"
>> >>
>> >> or
>> >>
>> >> "string(sel f::*[.='software'])"
>> >>
>> >> depending on whether you need the node or its string value
>> >> returned.
>> >>
>> >>
>> >> Cheers,
>> >> Dimitre Novatchev
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>
>> >> "David Thielen" <da***@bogus.wi ndward.net> wrote in message
>> >> news:74******** *************** ***********@mic rosoft.com...
>> >> > Hi;
>> >> >
>> >> > I am sure I am missing something here but I cannot figure it out.
>> >> > Below
>> >> > I
>> >> > have a program and I cannot figure out why the xpath selects that
>> >> > throw
>> >> > an
>> >> > exception fail. From what I know they should work.
>> >> >
>> >> > Also the second nav.OuterXml appears to also be wrong to me.
>> >> >
>> >> > Can someone explain to me why this does not work? (This is an
>> >> > example
>> >> > from
>> >> > a
>> >> > program we have where xpath can be entered in two parts so we
>> >> > have
>> >> > to
>> >> > be
>> >> > able
>> >> > to handle this. We can't just always require the fill
>> >> > /order/product[.='software'].)
>> >> >
>> >> > Program below sig.
>> >> >
>> >> > --
>> >> > thanks - dave
>> >> > david_at_windwa rd_dot_net
>> >> > http://www.windwardreports.com
>> >> >
>> >> > Program.cs:
>> >> > using System.Xml;
>> >> > using System.Xml.XPat h;
>> >> > using System;
>> >> > using System.IO;
>> >> >
>> >> > namespace XPathSample
>> >> > {
>> >> > class Program
>> >> > {
>> >> > static void Main(string[] args)
>> >> > {
>> >> >
>> >> > string xml =
>> >> > "<order>" +
>> >> > "<product>softw are</product>" +
>> >> > "<product>softw are</product>" +
>> >> > "</order>";
>> >> > XPathDocument doc = new XPathDocument(n ew StringReader(xm l));
>> >> >
>> >> > // this works
>> >> > XPathNavigator nav = doc.CreateNavig ator();
>> >> > XPathNavigator rtn =
>> >> > nav.SelectSingl eNode("/order/product[.='software']");
>> >> > Console.Out.Wri teLine("nav(/) = " + nav.OuterXml);
>> >> > Console.Out.Wri teLine("/order/product[.='software'] = " +
>> >> > rtn.OuterXml);
>> >> >
>> >> > // this works although the nav.OuterXml appears wrong
>> >> > nav = nav.SelectSingl eNode("/order");
>> >> > rtn = nav.SelectSingl eNode("product[.='software']");
>> >> > Console.Out.Wri teLine("nav(/order) = " + nav.OuterXml);
>> >> > Console.Out.Wri teLine("product[.='software'] = " + rtn.OuterXml);
>> >> >
>> >> > // this works (same as prev)
>> >> > rtn = nav.SelectSingl eNode("./product[.='software']");
>> >> > Console.Out.Wri teLine("./product[.='software'] = " +
>> >> > rtn.OuterXml);
>> >> >
>> >> > nav = nav.SelectSingl eNode("product" );
>> >> > Console.Out.Wri teLine("nav(/order/product) = " + nav.OuterXml);
>> >> >
>> >> > // these all fail - WHY?
>> >> > try
>> >> > {
>> >> > rtn = nav.SelectSingl eNode("[.='software']");
>> >> > }
>> >> > catch (XPathException ex)
>> >> > {
>> >> > Console.Out.Wri teLine("[.='software'] exception = " +
>> >> > ex.Message);
>> >> > }
>> >> > try
>> >> > {
>> >> > rtn = nav.SelectSingl eNode("./[.='software']");
>> >> > }
>> >> > catch (XPathException ex)
>> >> > {
>> >> > Console.Out.Wri teLine("./[.='software'] exception = " +
>> >> > ex.Message);
>> >> > }
>> >> >
>> >> > // yes this works - but I need the node as it does have a value.
>> >> > object obj = nav.Evaluate(". ='software'");
>> >> > Console.Out.Wri teLine(".='soft ware' evaluate = " + obj);
>> >> >
>> >> >
>> >> > Console.Out.Wri teLine("all done");
>> >> > }
>> >> > }
>> >> > }
>> >> >
>> >> >
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>
>>
>>
>>
>>
> Also, any good book(s) or website(s) that explain this, preferably by example?
I would recommend the XPath Visualizer as a proven tool for playing with
XPath and learning it "the fun way".
Cheers,
Dimitre Novatchev
"David Thielen" <da***@bogus.wi ndward.net> wrote in message
news:2D******** *************** ***********@mic rosoft.com... Hello;
Is this correct to say:
"/order/software" or "software" in each case is an axis specifier while
"."
is an abbreviated step?
I had thought both were a way of specifing a node and therefore were an
axisSpecifier.
Also, any good book(s) or website(s) that explain this, preferably by
example?
--
thanks - dave
david_at_windwa rd_dot_net
http://www.windwardreports.com
"Dimitre Novatchev" wrote:
"David Thielen" <da***@bogus.wi ndward.net> wrote in message
news:DA******** *************** ***********@mic rosoft.com... > Hi;
>
> First, thanks for helping on this I really appreciate it.
>
> Ok, I see that the xpath must start with "." to get it to the node and
> the
> "[...]" then modifies that - makes sense.
>
> But then, shouldn't ".[.='software']" or "./.[.='software']" or
No, the syntax rules do not allow this:
>> [4] Step ::= AxisSpecifier NodeTest Predicate*
>> | AbbreviatedStep
as we can see, Predicatecan only occur after a NodeTest , not after an
AbbreviatedStep .
> "./[.='software']" work.
Again, Predicate cannot be the leftmost symbol in a step
>
> In the case of ".[.='software']" isn't that saying start with the node
> "."
> (which exists) and then return all where .='software'?
This may seem a clear semantics, but the syntax is invalid according to
the
XPath 1.0 grammar rules.
As I said, use:
self::node()[.='software']
Cheers,
Dimitre Novatchev
>
> --
> thanks - dave
> david_at_windwa rd_dot_net
> http://www.windwardreports.com
>
>
>
> "Dimitre Novatchev" wrote:
>
>>
>> "David Thielen" <da***@bogus.wi ndward.net> wrote in message
>> news:24******** *************** ***********@mic rosoft.com...
>> > Hello;
>> >
>> > I assumed it is invalid syntax. My question is why? I don't
>> > understand
>> > why
>> > "[.='software']" or some variation of that is invalid.
>>
>> Read the XPath 1.0 Spec.
>>
>> It says:
>>
>> http://www.w3.org/TR/xpath#predicates
>>
>> "A predicate filters a node-set with respect to an axis to produce a
>> new
>> node-set. For each node in the node-set to be filtered, the
>> PredicateExpr
>> is
>> evaluated with that node as the context node, with the number of nodes
>> in
>> the node-set as the context size, and with the proximity position of
>> the
>> node in the node-set with respect to the axis as the context position;
>> if
>> PredicateExpr evaluates to true for that node, the node is included in
>> the
>> new node-set; otherwise, it is not included."
>>
>>
>>
>> So, a predicate can only apear after some XPath expression and filters
>> it. A
>> predicate, alone, is not a valid XPath expression.
>>
>> This is also made clear if we look at the BNF grammar definition of
>> XPath
>> 1.0. Of all rules only rule [4] and rule [20] contain the nonterminal
>> symbol
>> predicate and it is always not the leading symbol (of the RHS):
>>
>>
>>
>> http://www.w3.org/TR/xpath#section-Location-Steps
>>
>>
>> [4] Step ::= AxisSpecifier NodeTest Predicate*
>> | AbbreviatedStep
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> http://www.w3.org/TR/xpath#node-sets
>>
>>
>>
>> [20] FilterExpr ::= PrimaryExpr
>> | FilterExpr Predicate
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> I hope that this answers completely your question.
>>
>>
>> Cheers,
>> Dimitre Novatchev
>>
>>
>>
>> >
>> > --
>> > thanks - dave
>> > david_at_windwa rd_dot_net
>> > http://www.windwardreports.com
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> > "Dimitre Novatchev" wrote:
>> >
>> >> > // these all fail - WHY?
>> >>
>> >> because of a common feature -- they all have invalid XPath syntax.
>> >>
>> >> > try
>> >> > {
>> >> > rtn = nav.SelectSingl eNode("[.='software']");
>> >> > }
>> >> > catch (XPathException ex)
>> >> > {
>> >> > Console.Out.Wri teLine("[.='software'] exception = " +
>> >> > ex.Message);
>> >> > }
>> >> > try
>> >> > {
>> >> > rtn = nav.SelectSingl eNode("./[.='software']");
>> >> > }
>> >> > catch (XPathException ex)
>> >> > {
>> >> > Console.Out.Wri teLine("./[.='software'] exception = " +
>> >> > ex.Message);
>> >> > }
>> >> >
>> >> > // yes this works - but I need the node as it does have a value.
>> >> > object obj = nav.Evaluate(". ='software'");
>> >> > Console.Out.Wri teLine(".='soft ware' evaluate = " + obj);
>> >>
>> >>
>> >> Try:
>> >>
>> >> "self::*[.='software']"
>> >>
>> >> or
>> >>
>> >> "string(sel f::*[.='software'])"
>> >>
>> >> depending on whether you need the node or its string value
>> >> returned.
>> >>
>> >>
>> >> Cheers,
>> >> Dimitre Novatchev
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>
>> >> "David Thielen" <da***@bogus.wi ndward.net> wrote in message
>> >> news:74******** *************** ***********@mic rosoft.com...
>> >> > Hi;
>> >> >
>> >> > I am sure I am missing something here but I cannot figure it out.
>> >> > Below
>> >> > I
>> >> > have a program and I cannot figure out why the xpath selects that
>> >> > throw
>> >> > an
>> >> > exception fail. From what I know they should work.
>> >> >
>> >> > Also the second nav.OuterXml appears to also be wrong to me.
>> >> >
>> >> > Can someone explain to me why this does not work? (This is an
>> >> > example
>> >> > from
>> >> > a
>> >> > program we have where xpath can be entered in two parts so we
>> >> > have
>> >> > to
>> >> > be
>> >> > able
>> >> > to handle this. We can't just always require the fill
>> >> > /order/product[.='software'].)
>> >> >
>> >> > Program below sig.
>> >> >
>> >> > --
>> >> > thanks - dave
>> >> > david_at_windwa rd_dot_net
>> >> > http://www.windwardreports.com
>> >> >
>> >> > Program.cs:
>> >> > using System.Xml;
>> >> > using System.Xml.XPat h;
>> >> > using System;
>> >> > using System.IO;
>> >> >
>> >> > namespace XPathSample
>> >> > {
>> >> > class Program
>> >> > {
>> >> > static void Main(string[] args)
>> >> > {
>> >> >
>> >> > string xml =
>> >> > "<order>" +
>> >> > "<product>softw are</product>" +
>> >> > "<product>softw are</product>" +
>> >> > "</order>";
>> >> > XPathDocument doc = new XPathDocument(n ew StringReader(xm l));
>> >> >
>> >> > // this works
>> >> > XPathNavigator nav = doc.CreateNavig ator();
>> >> > XPathNavigator rtn =
>> >> > nav.SelectSingl eNode("/order/product[.='software']");
>> >> > Console.Out.Wri teLine("nav(/) = " + nav.OuterXml);
>> >> > Console.Out.Wri teLine("/order/product[.='software'] = " +
>> >> > rtn.OuterXml);
>> >> >
>> >> > // this works although the nav.OuterXml appears wrong
>> >> > nav = nav.SelectSingl eNode("/order");
>> >> > rtn = nav.SelectSingl eNode("product[.='software']");
>> >> > Console.Out.Wri teLine("nav(/order) = " + nav.OuterXml);
>> >> > Console.Out.Wri teLine("product[.='software'] = " + rtn.OuterXml);
>> >> >
>> >> > // this works (same as prev)
>> >> > rtn = nav.SelectSingl eNode("./product[.='software']");
>> >> > Console.Out.Wri teLine("./product[.='software'] = " +
>> >> > rtn.OuterXml);
>> >> >
>> >> > nav = nav.SelectSingl eNode("product" );
>> >> > Console.Out.Wri teLine("nav(/order/product) = " + nav.OuterXml);
>> >> >
>> >> > // these all fail - WHY?
>> >> > try
>> >> > {
>> >> > rtn = nav.SelectSingl eNode("[.='software']");
>> >> > }
>> >> > catch (XPathException ex)
>> >> > {
>> >> > Console.Out.Wri teLine("[.='software'] exception = " +
>> >> > ex.Message);
>> >> > }
>> >> > try
>> >> > {
>> >> > rtn = nav.SelectSingl eNode("./[.='software']");
>> >> > }
>> >> > catch (XPathException ex)
>> >> > {
>> >> > Console.Out.Wri teLine("./[.='software'] exception = " +
>> >> > ex.Message);
>> >> > }
>> >> >
>> >> > // yes this works - but I need the node as it does have a value.
>> >> > object obj = nav.Evaluate(". ='software'");
>> >> > Console.Out.Wri teLine(".='soft ware' evaluate = " + obj);
>> >> >
>> >> >
>> >> > Console.Out.Wri teLine("all done");
>> >> > }
>> >> > }
>> >> > }
>> >> >
>> >> >
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>
>>
>>
>>
>>
> Also, any good book(s) or website(s) that explain this, preferably by example?
I would recommend the XPath Visualizer as a proven tool for playing with
XPath and learning it "the fun way".
Cheers,
Dimitre Novatchev
"David Thielen" <da***@bogus.wi ndward.net> wrote in message
news:2D******** *************** ***********@mic rosoft.com... Hello;
Is this correct to say:
"/order/software" or "software" in each case is an axis specifier while
"."
is an abbreviated step?
I had thought both were a way of specifing a node and therefore were an
axisSpecifier.
Also, any good book(s) or website(s) that explain this, preferably by
example?
--
thanks - dave
david_at_windwa rd_dot_net
http://www.windwardreports.com
"Dimitre Novatchev" wrote:
"David Thielen" <da***@bogus.wi ndward.net> wrote in message
news:DA******** *************** ***********@mic rosoft.com... > Hi;
>
> First, thanks for helping on this I really appreciate it.
>
> Ok, I see that the xpath must start with "." to get it to the node and
> the
> "[...]" then modifies that - makes sense.
>
> But then, shouldn't ".[.='software']" or "./.[.='software']" or
No, the syntax rules do not allow this:
>> [4] Step ::= AxisSpecifier NodeTest Predicate*
>> | AbbreviatedStep
as we can see, Predicatecan only occur after a NodeTest , not after an
AbbreviatedStep .
> "./[.='software']" work.
Again, Predicate cannot be the leftmost symbol in a step
>
> In the case of ".[.='software']" isn't that saying start with the node
> "."
> (which exists) and then return all where .='software'?
This may seem a clear semantics, but the syntax is invalid according to
the
XPath 1.0 grammar rules.
As I said, use:
self::node()[.='software']
Cheers,
Dimitre Novatchev
>
> --
> thanks - dave
> david_at_windwa rd_dot_net
> http://www.windwardreports.com
>
>
>
> "Dimitre Novatchev" wrote:
>
>>
>> "David Thielen" <da***@bogus.wi ndward.net> wrote in message
>> news:24******** *************** ***********@mic rosoft.com...
>> > Hello;
>> >
>> > I assumed it is invalid syntax. My question is why? I don't
>> > understand
>> > why
>> > "[.='software']" or some variation of that is invalid.
>>
>> Read the XPath 1.0 Spec.
>>
>> It says:
>>
>> http://www.w3.org/TR/xpath#predicates
>>
>> "A predicate filters a node-set with respect to an axis to produce a
>> new
>> node-set. For each node in the node-set to be filtered, the
>> PredicateExpr
>> is
>> evaluated with that node as the context node, with the number of nodes
>> in
>> the node-set as the context size, and with the proximity position of
>> the
>> node in the node-set with respect to the axis as the context position;
>> if
>> PredicateExpr evaluates to true for that node, the node is included in
>> the
>> new node-set; otherwise, it is not included."
>>
>>
>>
>> So, a predicate can only apear after some XPath expression and filters
>> it. A
>> predicate, alone, is not a valid XPath expression.
>>
>> This is also made clear if we look at the BNF grammar definition of
>> XPath
>> 1.0. Of all rules only rule [4] and rule [20] contain the nonterminal
>> symbol
>> predicate and it is always not the leading symbol (of the RHS):
>>
>>
>>
>> http://www.w3.org/TR/xpath#section-Location-Steps
>>
>>
>> [4] Step ::= AxisSpecifier NodeTest Predicate*
>> | AbbreviatedStep
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> http://www.w3.org/TR/xpath#node-sets
>>
>>
>>
>> [20] FilterExpr ::= PrimaryExpr
>> | FilterExpr Predicate
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> I hope that this answers completely your question.
>>
>>
>> Cheers,
>> Dimitre Novatchev
>>
>>
>>
>> >
>> > --
>> > thanks - dave
>> > david_at_windwa rd_dot_net
>> > http://www.windwardreports.com
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> > "Dimitre Novatchev" wrote:
>> >
>> >> > // these all fail - WHY?
>> >>
>> >> because of a common feature -- they all have invalid XPath syntax.
>> >>
>> >> > try
>> >> > {
>> >> > rtn = nav.SelectSingl eNode("[.='software']");
>> >> > }
>> >> > catch (XPathException ex)
>> >> > {
>> >> > Console.Out.Wri teLine("[.='software'] exception = " +
>> >> > ex.Message);
>> >> > }
>> >> > try
>> >> > {
>> >> > rtn = nav.SelectSingl eNode("./[.='software']");
>> >> > }
>> >> > catch (XPathException ex)
>> >> > {
>> >> > Console.Out.Wri teLine("./[.='software'] exception = " +
>> >> > ex.Message);
>> >> > }
>> >> >
>> >> > // yes this works - but I need the node as it does have a value.
>> >> > object obj = nav.Evaluate(". ='software'");
>> >> > Console.Out.Wri teLine(".='soft ware' evaluate = " + obj);
>> >>
>> >>
>> >> Try:
>> >>
>> >> "self::*[.='software']"
>> >>
>> >> or
>> >>
>> >> "string(sel f::*[.='software'])"
>> >>
>> >> depending on whether you need the node or its string value
>> >> returned.
>> >>
>> >>
>> >> Cheers,
>> >> Dimitre Novatchev
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>
>> >> "David Thielen" <da***@bogus.wi ndward.net> wrote in message
>> >> news:74******** *************** ***********@mic rosoft.com...
>> >> > Hi;
>> >> >
>> >> > I am sure I am missing something here but I cannot figure it out.
>> >> > Below
>> >> > I
>> >> > have a program and I cannot figure out why the xpath selects that
>> >> > throw
>> >> > an
>> >> > exception fail. From what I know they should work.
>> >> >
>> >> > Also the second nav.OuterXml appears to also be wrong to me.
>> >> >
>> >> > Can someone explain to me why this does not work? (This is an
>> >> > example
>> >> > from
>> >> > a
>> >> > program we have where xpath can be entered in two parts so we
>> >> > have
>> >> > to
>> >> > be
>> >> > able
>> >> > to handle this. We can't just always require the fill
>> >> > /order/product[.='software'].)
>> >> >
>> >> > Program below sig.
>> >> >
>> >> > --
>> >> > thanks - dave
>> >> > david_at_windwa rd_dot_net
>> >> > http://www.windwardreports.com
>> >> >
>> >> > Program.cs:
>> >> > using System.Xml;
>> >> > using System.Xml.XPat h;
>> >> > using System;
>> >> > using System.IO;
>> >> >
>> >> > namespace XPathSample
>> >> > {
>> >> > class Program
>> >> > {
>> >> > static void Main(string[] args)
>> >> > {
>> >> >
>> >> > string xml =
>> >> > "<order>" +
>> >> > "<product>softw are</product>" +
>> >> > "<product>softw are</product>" +
>> >> > "</order>";
>> >> > XPathDocument doc = new XPathDocument(n ew StringReader(xm l));
>> >> >
>> >> > // this works
>> >> > XPathNavigator nav = doc.CreateNavig ator();
>> >> > XPathNavigator rtn =
>> >> > nav.SelectSingl eNode("/order/product[.='software']");
>> >> > Console.Out.Wri teLine("nav(/) = " + nav.OuterXml);
>> >> > Console.Out.Wri teLine("/order/product[.='software'] = " +
>> >> > rtn.OuterXml);
>> >> >
>> >> > // this works although the nav.OuterXml appears wrong
>> >> > nav = nav.SelectSingl eNode("/order");
>> >> > rtn = nav.SelectSingl eNode("product[.='software']");
>> >> > Console.Out.Wri teLine("nav(/order) = " + nav.OuterXml);
>> >> > Console.Out.Wri teLine("product[.='software'] = " + rtn.OuterXml);
>> >> >
>> >> > // this works (same as prev)
>> >> > rtn = nav.SelectSingl eNode("./product[.='software']");
>> >> > Console.Out.Wri teLine("./product[.='software'] = " +
>> >> > rtn.OuterXml);
>> >> >
>> >> > nav = nav.SelectSingl eNode("product" );
>> >> > Console.Out.Wri teLine("nav(/order/product) = " + nav.OuterXml);
>> >> >
>> >> > // these all fail - WHY?
>> >> > try
>> >> > {
>> >> > rtn = nav.SelectSingl eNode("[.='software']");
>> >> > }
>> >> > catch (XPathException ex)
>> >> > {
>> >> > Console.Out.Wri teLine("[.='software'] exception = " +
>> >> > ex.Message);
>> >> > }
>> >> > try
>> >> > {
>> >> > rtn = nav.SelectSingl eNode("./[.='software']");
>> >> > }
>> >> > catch (XPathException ex)
>> >> > {
>> >> > Console.Out.Wri teLine("./[.='software'] exception = " +
>> >> > ex.Message);
>> >> > }
>> >> >
>> >> > // yes this works - but I need the node as it does have a value.
>> >> > object obj = nav.Evaluate(". ='software'");
>> >> > Console.Out.Wri teLine(".='soft ware' evaluate = " + obj);
>> >> >
>> >> >
>> >> > Console.Out.Wri teLine("all done");
>> >> > }
>> >> > }
>> >> > }
>> >> >
>> >> >
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>
>>
>>
>>
>>
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