Transformation of Optional Date Elements

Question

I am new to Workshop and I am performing a transformation between two XML files that I will call source and target for example. I have multiple time/date elements that are optional in the target XML schema. I want to know how to set their values to null (nil?) if there is no data in the corresponding source XML schema element. Any ideas?
I get syntax errors with xquery set up like this:
if (data($iter_requestXML1/mySourceDate) != "" ) then
xs:date($iter_requestXML1/mySourceDate)
else
(nil)
I want to do something like above, but I don't know the right syntax.
However if I leave the "else" clause as:
else ()
Then I don't have a syntax error, but I get an exception whenever I try to reference the target XML element whenever their was no data for this element.
In the last example, I am thinking I get the reference error because the element was never initialized to NULL or NIL. Bit I don't know how to set it. Please Help!

Answer 1

Hi Ilona,
I think you alread have the solution. Create a new dso. Load the data from your 'old' dso month wise. So start with january. Just post the data in that case. Next load february. In the update rules, read the active table of your 'new' dso to get the related data for each record for the previous month. Calculate your new value and post the request.....
regards
Siggi