FunctX XSLT Function Library > Atomic Values of All Types > Comparing >

functx:max-determine-type

The maximum value in a sequence, figuring out its type (numeric or string)

Description

The functx:max-determine-type function returns the maximum of the values in $seq. The built-in fn:max function treats all untyped data as numeric and raises an error if a value cannot be cast to xs:double. This function, by contrast, tests whether values are numeric, and if so, sorts them as numbers. If values are not numeric, it sorts them like strings. If your values are definitely numeric, there is no need to use this function instead of the built-in fn:max function.

Arguments and Return Type

XSLT Function Declaration

<xsl:function name="functx:max-determine-type" as="xs:anyAtomicType?"
              xmlns:functx="http://www.functx.com">
  <xsl:param name="seq" as="xs:anyAtomicType*"/>

  <xsl:sequence select="
   if (every $value in $seq satisfies ($value castable as xs:double))
   then max(for $value in $seq return xs:double($value))
   else max(for $value in $seq return xs:string($value))
 "/>

</xsl:function>

Examples

<values>
   <nums>
      <num>12</num>
      <num>23</num>
      <num>115</num>
      <num>12.5</num>
   </nums>
   <strings>
      <string>def</string>
      <string>abc</string>
   </strings>
</values>

functx:max-determine-type($in-xml//num)

115

functx:max-determine-type($in-xml//string)

def

functx:max-determine-type(
   $in-xml//(num|string))

def

See Also

History