XSLT Transformation ABAP to XML speacial treatment of empty elements

Question

Dear All,
I have created a deep abap structure which basically reflects the structure of my XML file which I would like to generate later. I have created a transformation via transaction SE80->create XSLT Program. I am also using the ABAP command call transformation...
I have made a few ammendments to my XSLT program where required.
I am outputting data in a loop.
But I got a problem with one field. I must check if this date field is initial.
Which I did by using statement:
<xsl:if test="ENDDATE='0000-00-00'">
But if this field is initial I have to output the following tag:
<ENDDATE ReasonForNull="9"></ENDDATE>
Hence I defined an attribute below in my element as follows:
   <xsl:for-each select="INSTANCE/_-PIQGB_-INSTANCE_XML">
<xsl:if test="ENDDATE='0000-00-00'">
   <xsl:element name="ENDDATE">
       <xsl:attribute name="ReasonForNull"/>  
    </xsl:element>
</xsl:if>
   </xsl:for-each>
Which generates now the output as follows and is quitwe close to the desired output:
<ENDDATE ReasonForNull=""></ENDDATE>
Can anybody make a suggestion how I can generate the desired output.
I assume that I would have to assign a value to the attribute to get the right output. But I got no idea how I could this in the loop.
Many thanks in advance.
Rainer

Answer 1

Hello Rainer
The solution is quite simple. See the example below.
" Sample XML file:
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<?xml-stylesheet type="text/xsl" href="../tmp_EDI_ZZ_tests/Untitled2.xsl"?>
<INVOIC02>
    <INSTANCE>
        <ENDDATE>2008-07-31</ENDDATE>
    </INSTANCE>
    <INSTANCE>
        <ENDDATE>0000-00-00</ENDDATE>
    </INSTANCE>
</INVOIC02>
" Stylesheet:
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<xsl:stylesheet xmlns:xsl="http://www.w3.org/1999/XSL/Transform" version="1.0">
    <xsl:output encoding="ISO-8859-1" method="xml" indent="yes"/>
    <xsl:template match="/*">
        <xsl:for-each select="INSTANCE">
            <xsl:choose>
                <xsl:when test="ENDDATE='0000-00-00' ">
                    <xsl:element name="ENDDATE">
                        <xsl:attribute name="ReasonForNull">
                            <xsl:value-of select=" '9' "/>   " Set value for attribute !!!
                        </xsl:attribute>
                    </xsl:element>
                </xsl:when>
                <xsl:otherwise>
                    <xsl:copy-of select="node()"/>
                </xsl:otherwise>
            </xsl:choose>
        </xsl:for-each>
    </xsl:template>
</xsl:stylesheet>
" Result of transformation:
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="ISO-8859-1"?>
<ENDDATE>2008-07-31</ENDDATE>
<ENDDATE ReasonForNull="9"/>
Regards
  Uwe