XPath is a query language for selecting nodes from an XML document. To use XPath expressions effectively, you need a good understanding of the XPath Core Function Library.
The XPath Toolbar
Oxygen XML Editor provides an XPath toolbar to let you query XML documents fast and easy using XPath expressions.
You can choose the XPath version from the drop-down menu available in the left side of the toolbar. Available options include XPath 1.0, XPath 2.0, XPath 2.0 SA, XPath 3.0, XPath 3.0 SA.
Note: XPath 2.0 SA and XPath 3.0 SA use the Saxon EE XML Schema version option.
Note: The results returned by XPath 2.0 SA and XPath 3.0 SA have a location limited to the
line number of the start element (there are no column information and no end
specified).
Note: Oxygen XML Editor uses Saxon to execute XPath 3.0 expressions, but implements a
part of the 3.0 functions. When using a function that is not implemented, Oxygen XML Editor can return a compilation error.
XPath scope menu - Oxygen XML Editor allows you to define a scope on which the XPath operation
will be executed. You can choose where the XPath expression will be executed:
Current file - current selected file only
Project
- all the files in the project
Selected
project resources - the files selected in the project.
All opened files - all files opened in the application
Current DITA Map
hierarchy - all resources referenced in the currently selected DITA
map, opened in the DITA Maps Manager view
Opened
archive - files open in the Archive
Browser view
Working sets - the selected working sets
Configure XPath working sets - allows you to configure and manage
collections of files and folders, encapsulated in logical containers called
working sets
XPath file
filter - you can filter the files from the selected scope on which the
XPath expression will be executed. By default the XPath expression will be executed
only on XML files, but you can also define a set of patterns that will filter out
files from the current scope. If you select
the Include archive option, the XPath expression will be
also executed on the files in any archive (including EPUB and DocX) found at the
current scope.
The following actions are available in the Settings menu:
Update on caret move - when enabled and you
navigate through a document, the XPath expression corresponding to the XML node at the
current cursor position is displayed
Evaluate as you type - when you select this option, the XPath
expression you are composing is evaluated in real timeNote: TheEvaluate as you type option and
the automatic validation are disabled when you
edit huge
documents or when the scope is other than Current
file
Options - opens the Preferences page of the
currently selected processing engine
Note: During the execution of an XPath expression, the XPath toolbar displays a stop button
. Press this button to
stop the XPath execution.
. Press this button to
stop the XPath execution.When you type expressions longer than 60 characters, a dialog pops up and offers you the possibility to switch to the XPath builder view.