How to get XML node value in XSLT?

Comparing current node to previous node with XSLT and XPath

• I need an XPath expression that will allow me (in XSLT) to compare the value of an XML element in one node with the value of another element in a preceding node. So, given this faked up code: <calendar> <event> <date>May 11</date> <description>Mother's Day</description> </event> <event> <date>May 12</date> <description>Birthday</description> </event> <event> <date>May 12</date> <description>Board Meeting</description> </event> <calendar> I want to use XSLT to return something that looks like this: May 11 ---------- Mother's Day May 12 ---------- Birthday Board Meeting The problem is, I can't figure out how to compare the value of date in the current node to date in the previous node. I was trying <xsl:if test="date != preceding-sibling::event/date"> but the problem is preceding-sibling is every sibling, and it defaults to the first sibling. I want the exact previous node -- if you're on X event node, compare the value of date to the value of date in X-1 event node. Since the total number of possible event nodes could be anywhere from 1 to infinite, I can't just write code that goes event[3] vs event[2]. I know there's a simple way to do this, but I've just about exhausted my Google-fu. Ideas?

• Answer:

  preceding-sibling ought to work, it's a reverse axis so the nodes are returned in reverse order. I think you just need to add a [1] so you're comparing only against one node instead of against all of the preceding siblings (which will likely succeed since the '!=' test will succeed ANY node on the left is not-equal to ANY node on the right). That is: date != preceding-sibling::event[1]/date That said, I am just spouting this off the top of my head so I can only hope I'm right!