Removing empty nodes

[jhurrell]

I have an XML file that contains some empty nodes like:

<sample>
   <test/>
   <test1/>
</sample>
 

I am using Saxon 8.8 to transform this XML into another XML file, but I'd like to remove the empty nodes and leave the rest of the document as it was.

XML:

<?xml version="1.0" ?>
 
<ROOT>
    <CRITERION>
        <CRITERION_ID>1000</CRITERION_ID>
        <CRITERION_NAME>TEST</CRITERION_NAME>
    </CRITERION>
    <CRITERION>
        <CRITERION_ID>2000</CRITERION_ID>
        <CRITERION_NAME>TESTA</CRITERION_NAME>
    </CRITERION>
    <CRITERION>
        <CRITERION_ID />
        <CRITERION_NAME />
    </CRITERION>
    <CRITERION>
        <CRITERION_ID>3000</CRITERION_ID>
        <CRITERION_NAME>TESTB</CRITERION_NAME>
    </CRITERION>
    <CRITERION>
        <CRITERION_ID />
        <CRITERION_NAME />
    </CRITERION>
</ROOT>
 

Required result:

<?xml version="1.0" ?>
 
<ROOT>
    <CRITERION>
        <CRITERION_ID>1000</CRITERION_ID>
        <CRITERION_NAME>TEST</CRITERION_NAME>
    </CRITERION>
    <CRITERION>
        <CRITERION_ID>2000</CRITERION_ID>
        <CRITERION_NAME>TESTA</CRITERION_NAME>
    </CRITERION>
    <CRITERION>
        <CRITERION_ID>3000</CRITERION_ID>
        <CRITERION_NAME>TESTB</CRITERION_NAME>
    </CRITERION>
</ROOT>
 

So far I have partly managed this using the following stylesheet:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<xsl:stylesheet xmlns:xsl="http://www.w3.org/1999/XSL/Transform" version="2.0">
 
<xsl:output method="xml"/>
<xsl:template match="/">
    <ROOT>
        <xsl:for-each select="//CRITERION">
            <CRITERION>
                <xsl:copy-of select="CRITERION_ID[normalize-space(.) != '']" />
                <xsl:copy-of select="CRITERION_NAME[normalize-space(.) != '']" />
            </CRITERION>
        </xsl:for-each>
    </ROOT>
</xsl:template>    
 
</xsl:stylesheet>
 

However, it creates the following:

<?xml version="1.0" ?>
 
<ROOT>
    <CRITERION>
        <CRITERION_ID>1000</CRITERION_ID>
        <CRITERION_NAME>TEST</CRITERION_NAME>
    </CRITERION>
    <CRITERION>
        <CRITERION_ID>2000</CRITERION_ID>
        <CRITERION_NAME>TESTA</CRITERION_NAME>
    </CRITERION>
    <CRITERION />
    <CRITERION>
        <CRITERION_ID>3000</CRITERION_ID>
        <CRITERION_NAME>TESTB</CRITERION_NAME>
    </CRITERION>
    <CRITERION />
</ROOT>
 

I can see why it does this, but I cannot figure out how to get rid of the empty <CRITERION /> nodes completely.

Any ideas gratefully received.

[dorinbogdan]

Try this method:
[html]<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>

<xsl:output method="xml"/>
<xsl:template match="/">
<ROOT>
<xsl:for-each select="//CRITERION">
<xsl:if test="CRITERION_ID[normalize-space(.) != ''] or CRITERION_NAME[normalize-space(.) != '']">
<CRITERION>
<xsl:copy-of select="CRITERION_ID" />
<xsl:copy-of select="CRITERION_NAME" />
</CRITERION>
</xsl:if>
</xsl:for-each>
</ROOT>
</xsl:template>

</xsl:stylesheet>[/html]

If CRITERION_ID is empty but CRITERION_NAME is not empty, or vice-versa, then both are printed.
I don't have Saxon, but opened the xml in IE and it shows the text fine.

[jhurrell]

Try this method:
[html]<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>

<xsl:output method="xml"/>
<xsl:template match="/">
<ROOT>
<xsl:for-each select="//CRITERION">
<xsl:if test="CRITERION_ID[normalize-space(.) != ''] or CRITERION_NAME[normalize-space(.) != '']">
<CRITERION>
<xsl:copy-of select="CRITERION_ID" />
<xsl:copy-of select="CRITERION_NAME" />
</CRITERION>
</xsl:if>
</xsl:for-each>
</ROOT>
</xsl:template>

</xsl:stylesheet>[/html]

If CRITERION_ID is empty but CRITERION_NAME is not empty, or vice-versa, then both are printed.
I don't have Saxon, but opened the xml in IE and it shows the text fine.

Genius!!! Thank you Dorin! This does indeed solve the problem!! I had tried an IF tag, but hadn't thought to combine it with an OR.
Thanks again.

[dorinbogdan]

You're always welcome.
Be blessed.

[dorinbogdan]

Since the problem was solved I'll close the thread.

[dorinbogdan]

I re-open the thread in order to allow further comments or suggestions from other members or experts, as per adim request.