Syntax

#base
#full
#xmlns

#base, #full, or #xmlns are used to modify the interpretation of element names in element rule headers, and when inquiring about the element context.

These modifiers are intended for use in programs that process XML documents that use XML namespaces. Briefly, such documents use "qualified" element names, which are just ordinary XML names with an optional namespace prefix. The prefix is separated from the remainder of the name with a colon. For instance, in:

     <author:name xmlns:author="www.some-uri.org/authors.xml">
        Herman Melville
   </author:name>

A complete description of XML namespaces can be found at http://www.w3.org/TR/1999/REC-xml-names-19990114/

The #base, #xmlns, and #full modifiers control whether the entire element name from the input document must match, or whether only the base part of the element name will be considered.

If none of these modifiers is given, then the default is that specified by the markup-identification declaration. If there is no markup-identification declaration, then the default is #full.

Element names in rule headers

Element names in element rule headers may be prefixed with either #base or #full. #xmlns is not permitted in this context.

When the element name is prefixed by #full, the rule will only fire when the element name in the start tag matches in its entirety.

For example, the element rule

  element #full "name"
     output "%c"

When the element name is prefixed by #base, the rule will fire whenever the base part of the element name in the start tag matches. For instance:

  element #base "name"
     output "%c"

Inquiring about the element context

#full, #base, or #xmlns may precede an element name when testing an element's identity.

For example, when element is #full "name" will succeed if the name of the current element in the input document is "name", but not if the current element is "author:name".

when element #base "name" will succeed if the name of the current element in the input document is "name", or if the base part of the name of the current element is "name" (such as "author:name").

For some tests, #xmlns may be used to modify the element name. #xmlns is a more restricted form of #base. For example, when parent is #xmlns "author" succeeds when the base part of the element name of the parent element is "author" and when the parent element is in the same local namespace as the current element.

An element is in the same local namespace as the current element if all open elements between the current element and the element being tested have the same namespace name as the current element.

In the following example:

  <x:a xmlns:x="bar.org" xmlns:y="foo.org" xmlns:z="bar.org">
     <y:b>
      <x:c>
         <z:d>
          <z:d>
          </z:e>
        <z:d>
     </x:c>
   </y:b>
  </x:a>

In the example above, the following are true:

• open element is #xmlns e
• open element is #xmlns d
• open element is #xmlns c

• open element is #xmlns b
• open element is #xmlns a

#full, #base, or #xmlns may also be used when identifying an element whose properties are being referenced.

For example, you can retrieve the name of an ancestor element whose base part is "a" with

      output name of open element #base a

The #xmlns modifier cannot be used in:

• element rule headers,
• when element is ... tests
• when previous is ... tests
• when last content is ... tests
• when last subelement is ... tests

Related Syntax #xmlns-names xmlns-name xmlns-change markup-identification

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