How to Implement If-Else Statement in Xslt?

Elena Rostova
Elena Rostova
• • 5 min read

I Am Trying to Implement an If -Else Statement in Xslt but My Code Just Doesn't Parse. Does Anyone Have Any Ideas? Date: Mooooooooooooo Dooooooooooooo 1 5...

How to Implement If-Else Statement in Xslt?

I am trying to implement an if -else statement in XSLT but my code just doesn't parse. Does anyone have any ideas?

  <xsl:variable name="CreatedDate" select="@createDate"/>
  <xsl:variable name="IDAppendedDate" select="2012-01-01" />
  <b>date: <xsl:value-of select="$CreatedDate"/></b> 

  <xsl:if test="$CreatedDate > $IDAppendedDate">
    <h2> mooooooooooooo </h2>
  </xsl:if>
  <xsl:else>
    <h2> dooooooooooooo </h2>
  </xsl:else>
1

5 Answers

You have to reimplement it using <xsl:choose> tag:

<xsl:choose>
  <xsl:when test="$CreatedDate > $IDAppendedDate">
    <h2> mooooooooooooo </h2>
  </xsl:when>
  <xsl:otherwise>
    <h2> dooooooooooooo </h2>
  </xsl:otherwise>
</xsl:choose>

If statement is used for checking just one condition quickly. When you have multiple options, use <xsl:choose> as illustrated below:

   <xsl:choose>
     <xsl:when test="$CreatedDate > $IDAppendedDate">
       <h2>mooooooooooooo</h2>
     </xsl:when>
     <xsl:otherwise>
      <h2>dooooooooooooo</h2>
     </xsl:otherwise>
   </xsl:choose>

Also, you can use multiple <xsl:when> tags to express If .. Else If or Switch patterns as illustrated below:

   <xsl:choose>
     <xsl:when test="$CreatedDate > $IDAppendedDate">
       <h2>mooooooooooooo</h2>
     </xsl:when>
     <xsl:when test="$CreatedDate = $IDAppendedDate">
       <h2>booooooooooooo</h2>
     </xsl:when>
     <xsl:otherwise>
      <h2>dooooooooooooo</h2>
     </xsl:otherwise>
   </xsl:choose>

The previous example would be equivalent to the pseudocode below:

   if ($CreatedDate > $IDAppendedDate)
   {
       output: <h2>mooooooooooooo</h2>
   }
   else if ($CreatedDate = $IDAppendedDate)
   {
       output: <h2>booooooooooooo</h2>
   }
   else
   {
       output: <h2>dooooooooooooo</h2>
   }
2

If I may offer some suggestions (two years later but hopefully helpful to future readers):

  • Factor out the common h2 element.
  • Factor out the common ooooooooooooo text.
  • Be aware of new XPath 2.0 if/then/else construct if using XSLT 2.0.

Must Read

XSLT 1.0 Solution (also works with XSLT 2.0)

<h2>
  <xsl:choose>
    <xsl:when test="$CreatedDate > $IDAppendedDate">m</xsl:when>
    <xsl:otherwise>d</xsl:otherwise>
  </xsl:choose>
  ooooooooooooo
</h2>
Elena Rostova

Elena Rostova

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Elena Rostova holds a Master's degree in Public Health Journalism. She covers groundbreaking medical research, holistic wellness trends, mental health awareness, and nutritional science.