XMLIF(1) xmlif XMLIF(1)

NAME

xmlif - conditional processing instructions for XML

SYNOPSIS

xmlif [attrib=value...]

DESCRIPTION

xmlif filters XML according to conditionalizing markup. This can be
useful for formatting one of several versions of an XML document
depending on conditions passed to the command.

Attribute/value pairs from the command line are matched against the
attributes associated with certain processing instructions in the
document. The instructions are <?xmlif if?> and its inverse <?xmlif
if not?>, <?xmlif elif?> and its inverse <?xmlif elif not?>, <?xmlif
else?>, and <?xmlif fi?>.

Argument/value pairs given on the command line are checked against
the value of corresponding attributes in the conditional processing
instructions. An `attribute match' happens if an attribute occurs in
both the command-line arguments and the tag, and the values match. An
`attribute mismatch' happens if an attribute occurs in both the
command-line arguments and the tag, but the values do not match.

Spans between <?xmlif if?> or <?xmlif elif?> and the next conditional
processing instruction at the same nesting level are passed through
unaltered if there is at least one attribute match and no attribute
mismatch; spans between <?xmlif if not?> and <?xmlif elif not?> and
the next conditional processing instruction are passed otherwise.
Spans between <?xmlif else?> and the next conditional-processing tag
are passed through only if no previous span at the same level has
been passed through. <?xmlif if?> and <?xmlif fi?> (and their `not'
variants) change the current nesting level; <?xmlif else?> and
<?xmlif elif?> do not.

All these processing instructions will be removed from the output
produced. Aside from the conditionalization, all other input is
passed through untouched; in particular, entity references are not
resolved.

Value matching is by string equality, except that "|" in an attribute
value is interpreted as an alternation character. Thus, saying
foo='red|blue' on the command line enables conditions red and blue.
Saying color='black|white' in a tag matches command-line conditions
color='black' and color='white'.

Here is an example:

Always issue this text.
<?xmlif if condition='html'?>
Issue this text if 'condition=html' is given on the command line.
<?xmlif elif condition='pdf|ps'?>
Issue this text if 'condition=pdf' or 'condition=ps'
is given on the command line.
<?xmlif else?>
Otherwise issue this text.
<?xmlif fi?>
Always issue this text.

AUTHOR

Eric S. Raymond <esr@snark.thyrsus.com>
Author of xmlif program

Linux April 2009 XMLIF(1)