count the number of words in a xml node using xsl

Question

Here is the sample xml document.

   count the number of words 

For this example I want

Answer 1

Use this XPath one-liner:

  string-length(normalize-space(node)) 
- 
  string-length(translate(normalize-space(node),' ','')) +1

Here is a short verification using XSLT:

When this transformation is applied on the provided XML document:

     count the number of words 

the wanted, correct result is produced:

5

Explanation: Use of the standard XPath functions normalize-space(), translate() and string-length() .

Update1:

The OP asked:

"Your (Dimitre Novatchev) code is working fine for the above xml. Is your code will work for the following xml?"

  
       pass pass 
  
  
       fail pass fail 
  
  
       pass pass fail 
  

Answer: The same approach can be used:

When this transformation is used on the newly-provided XML document (above), the wanted correct answer is produced:

8

Update2: The OP then asked in a comment:

"Can I have a comparision with the words in the node with some default word. Conside node contains value "pass pass fail". I want to calculate number of pass and number of fail. LIke pass=2 fail=1. is it possible? Help me man"

Answer:

The same approach works with this modification of the problem, too (in the general case, though. you need a good tokenization -- ask me about this in a new question, please):

    
    

    
        pass: 
     fail: 
    

When this transformation is applied on the last XML document (above), the wanted, correct is produced:

    pass: 2     fail: 0
    pass: 1     fail: 2
    pass: 2     fail: 1