Summary This example utilizes variables and node lists being passed into a select/option XSLT template.

I have in the past used methods like: <SELECT ID=MySelectOption>
  <xsl:for-each select=CurrentNodeContext/NodeValues>
    <option><xsl:value-of select=MyOptionValue/></option>
  </xsl:for-each>
</SELECT> or <SELECT ID=MySelectOption>
  <xsl:call-template select=CurrentNodeContext/NodeValues/>
</SELECT>
to render a HTML SELECT/Option tag using XSLT. Look familiar? Well here is yet another and in my opinion, a better one.

What if you had to render the same HTML select/option list many, many times? Instead of XPath-ing the context nodes every time, do it once. With a single call, the programmer can pass in a variable containing the context node list (that is set globally) to a template. <xsl:variable name=USStates select=States/tStateLookup />

Optionally, the ability to set specific SELECT/Option attributes exists as well.

• ID
• NAME
• SELECTED Value
• MULTI
• SIZE
• ONCLICK, ONCHANGE events
• You get the idea....

The downloadable file contains a XML file and a XSL file with three types of SELECT/Option examples. Transforming the XML will render all three. In the following example I show a simple single select, single display Select/Option example.

Select Box - Style 1 Single Select Single Display
The Caller - This example is one of three contained in the downloadable file. <xsl:call-template name=BuildUserSelectOptions>
  <xsl:with-param name=list select=$USStates/>
  <xsl:with-param name=optionID select='States_Style1'/>
  <xsl:with-param name=optionNAME select='States_Style1'/>
  <xsl:with-param name=optionSelected select=state/>
  <xsl:with-param name=optionValue select='State'/>
  <xsl:with-param name=optionDisplay select='State'/>
  <xsl:with-param name=optionOther1 select='StateName'/>
  <xsl:with-param name=optionOther2 select='Please select a state'/>
</xsl:call-template> The Template <xsl:template name=BuildUserSelectOptions >
  <xsl:param name=list />
  <xsl:param name=optionID />
  <xsl:param name=optionNAME />
  <xsl:param name=optionSelected />
  <xsl:param name=optionValue />
  <xsl:param name=optionDisplay />
  <xsl:param name=optionOther1 />
  <xsl:param name=optionOther2 />
  <xsl:param name=optionOther3 />
  <select name=Trustees onchange=DispSelectValue(this) >
     <option value=><xsl:value-of select=$optionOther2/></option>
     <xsl:for-each select=$list>
       <xsl:sort select=*[local-name() = $optionDisplay] order=ascending/>
       <xsl:element name=Option>
         <xsl:attribute name=value>
           <xsl:value-of select=*[local-name() = $optionValue]/>
         </xsl:attribute>
         <xsl:if test=$optionSelected=(*[local-name() = $optionValue])>
          <xsl:attribute name=SELECTED>TRUE</xsl:attribute>
         </xsl:if>
         <xsl:value-of select=*[local-name() = $optionDisplay] />
         <xsl:text disable-output-escaping=yes>&nbsp;</xsl:text>
         -
         <xsl:text disable-output-escaping=yes>&nbsp;</xsl:text>
         (<xsl:value-of select=*[local-name() = $optionOther1]/>)
       </xsl:element>
     </xsl:for-each>
   </select>
</xsl:template>