From: "Thomas, Mark - BLS CTR" <Thomas.Mark@...>
Date: 2006-08-03T02:20:25+09:00
Subject: Re: REXML XPath: bug or misunderstanding?

Eric Armstrong wrote:
> This code looks for a table that matches specific criteria:
> 
>     XPath.each(@doc, '//table') do |tbl|
>       XPath.each(tbl, '//td') do |td|
>         # look for matching data

Are you doing anything with tbl other than making it a stopping point
for iteration? You could remove one loop if you simply delve to
precisely what you're looking for:

  XPath.each(@doc, '//table//td') do |td|
    # look for matching data

And, depending on how you define "matching data" you may be able to add
some XPath conditions that get rid of the loop entirely.

- Mark.