WPF-XSLT Runner

A VS Code extension that executes an XSLT transformation on XML data extracted from a custom .wpf archive (a renamed .zip file) using the Saxon XSLT processor.

Features

• Extracts input.dat and variables.xml from a selected .wpf or .zip archive into a secure temporary directory.
• Displays extracted files side-by-side for review or modification without cluttering your workspace.
• Runs XSLT transformations on the extracted data, reading parameters directly from variables.xml.
• Works on unsaved XSLT files natively; no need to save your XSLT before testing.
• Displays the output of the Saxon processor in a clean, unsaved editor tab.
• Captures and displays execution errors in the "WPF-XSLT Error" output channel.
• Cross-platform compatible.

Prerequisites

• Java: The extension uses Java to run the Saxon processor. Ensure Java is installed and available in your system's PATH.
• Saxon XSLT Processor: You will need a saxon.jar executable to process transformations.

Extension Settings

This extension contributes the following settings:

• wpfXslt.saxonPath: The absolute path to your saxon.jar file. You can set this via the command palette.

How to Use

1. Set the Saxon Path (First-time setup)

You only need to do this once per machine, or when the location of your saxon.jar changes.

1. Open the Command Palette (Ctrl+Shift+P on Windows/Linux, Cmd+Shift+P on macOS).
2. Type and select WPF-XSLT Runner: Set Saxon Path.
3. A file explorer window will open. Select your downloaded saxon.jar.

2. Select a WPF Archive

1. Open the Command Palette (Ctrl+Shift+P).
2. Type and select WPF-XSLT Runner: Select WPF File.
3. A file explorer will open. Select your .wpf or .zip file containing an input.dat and a variables.xml.
4. The extension will automatically extract these files and open them side-by-side in your editor. You can inspect or edit these files. If you edit them, simply save (Ctrl+S / Cmd+S).

3. Run the XSLT Transformation

1. Open your XSLT file. (You do not even need to save the file; you can open a new untitled file, set the language to XSL, and paste your code).
2. Ensure the tab with your XSLT code is currently the active, focused tab.
3. Open the Command Palette (Ctrl+Shift+P).
4. Type and select WPF-XSLT Runner: Run XSLT.
5. The extension will pass the extracted input.dat, variables.xml, and your active XSLT to Saxon. The results will be displayed in a new editor tab next to your code.

Sample Files

If you wish to test the extension, use the files generated in the test_data folder of this repository:

1. Load test_data/sample.wpf using the Select WPF File command.
2. Open test_data/transform.xsl.
3. Run the Run XSLT command.

Known Issues

• The variable mapping logic assumes variables.xml uses elements with a name and value attribute (e.g., <variable name="discountRate" value="0.8" />).

Release Notes

0.0.1

Initial release of WPF-XSLT Runner.