xml - xsl for function iteration introducing unwanted spaces -

i'm generating xml output using base 'super' xml file , reference xml file list parts of super-file need.

the problem function. when use iterate on set , conditionally output value, keeps outputting spaces no match!

here's code

    <xsl:attribute         name="type"         select="         $index_type in $ref_indexes/@type         return (if         (translate($index_type, 'abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz ',         'abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz') = ./@type)         $index_type         else '')) "/> 

where $ref_indexes/@type contain

 "abc def ghi mno" 

and ./@type single element of

 {abc,def,ghi,jkl,mno,pqr} 

the result has spaces in attribute, ie:

type="abc..." type=".def.." type="..ghi." type="...mno" 

---

• i have tried using intersect , got this:

"required item type of first operand of 'intersect' node(); supplied value has item type xs:string"

• i've tried nomalize-space , got this:

"a sequence of more 1 item not allowed first argument of normalize-space()"

• when use distinct-values gives me 1 space, frustrating because it's close!

• i've tried checking result length > 1 also, still spaces. i've tried including space in translation.

---

fwiw i'm doing transformation on osx (10.6.7) java 1.5.0_26 , saxon 9 he.

i'm pretty out of ideas @ stage :(

all , warmly appreciated,

gary

does

<xsl:attribute name="type" select=" string-join(for $index_type in $ref_indexes/@type return (if (translate($index_type, 'abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz ', 'abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz') = ./@type) $index_type else ''), '') "/> 

do want? if not consider post minimal complete samples allowing reproduce problem.

[edit] think doing

<xsl:attribute name="type" select="$ref_indexes/@type[translate(., 'abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz ', 'abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz') = current()/@type]"/> 

might suffice.