How to Sort XML Using XSLT: Copying Only Tags' Values Made Easy

Discover how to effectively sort XML data by tags using XSLT, without losing the structure of your XML. This guide offers step-by-step instructions to avoid common pitfalls.
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Sorting XML Using XSLT: Copying Only Tags' Values Made Easy

XML data manipulation often involves sorting elements based on specific criteria. If you’re facing the challenge of sorting XML data while ensuring you only copy the values of the tags instead of copying the entire tags themselves, you’re not alone. Many XML developers encounter similar issues when working with XSLT transformations.

In this guide, we'll examine a common scenario—sorting an XML document by two tags: Type and NonRecurringCharges. We will also provide an effective solution to ensure your output retains the correct structure.

Understanding the Problem

Consider you have an XML document that contains multiple offerings, each defined by tags such as Type and NonRecurringCharges. Your goal is to sort these offerings based on the values of the Type and NonRecurringCharges tags while still maintaining the overall XML structure.

Sample XML Structure

Here’s a simple representation of the XML you might be dealing with:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

The Challenge

When applying an XSLT template, the result can sometimes lead to a simplified output that loses the intended structure, generating a flat XML instead of a properly nested one.

Crafting the Solution

To address this challenge, follow these steps to ensure your XSLT transformation maintains the correct structure while achieving the desired sorting.

Step 1: Identity Transformation

Start with the identity transformation. This acts as a base template, ensuring that all nodes and attributes are copied correctly.

Add this template to your XSLT file:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

Step 2: Sorting the Offerings

Now, modify your original template to include the sorting logic. The key here is to ensure you're only sorting the Offerings elements and maintaining their hierarchical structure while applying the xsl:sort appropriately:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

Step 3: Resulting XML Structure

With the adjustments above, the output will maintain the desired format while successfully sorting the offerings:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

Conclusion

Sorting XML data in XSLT requires careful attention to how nodes are copied and sorted. By implementing the identity transformation and ensuring that you apply sorting correctly, you can produce the desired structured output.

This guide should help resolve common XML sorting issues while maintaining the integrity of your data. If you have further questions or need additional assistance, feel free to leave a comment below!