Grouping xml nodes by value of a child in Xsl

Question

1
first



2
second         


        

Answer 1

I. Here is a complete and very short XSLT 1.0 solution:

when this transformation is applied on the provided XML document:

    
        1
        first
    
    
        2
        second
    
    
        3
        first
    

the wanted, correct result is produced:

    
        1
        first
    
        3
        first
    
    
        2
        second
    

Do note:

1. The use of the Muenchian method for grouping. This is the most efficient grouping method in XSLT 1.0.

2. The use of AVT (Attribute Value Template) to specify a literal result element and its variable - value attribute as one whole. Using AVTs simplifies coding and yields shorter and more understandable code.

II. An even shorter XSLT 2.0 solution:

when this transformation is applied on the same XML document (above), the same correct result is again produced.

Do note:

.1. The use of the XSLT 2.0 instruction.

.2. The use of the standard XSLT 2.0 functions current-group() and current-grouping-key()