How to Configure Saxon as the XSLT Processor in Java?

How can I integrate the Saxon XSLT processor into my Java application?

// Example of integrating Saxon in Java
import net.sf.saxon.s9api.*;

public class SaxonExample {
    public static void main(String[] args) throws SaxonApiException {
        Processor proc = new Processor(false);
        XsltCompiler comp = proc.newXsltCompiler();
        XsltExecutable exec = comp.compile(new StreamSource("stylesheet.xsl"));
        XsltProcessor processor = exec.load();
        processor.setSource(new StreamSource("input.xml"));
        processor.setDestination(new Serializer(System.out));
        processor.transform();
    }
}

Integrating the Saxon XSLT processor into a Java application allows you to perform XML transformations efficiently. Saxon supports both XSLT and XPath standards, making it a powerful tool for XML processing.

// Example to compile and run an XSLT transformation using Saxon
Processor proc = new Processor(false);
XsltCompiler compiler = proc.newXsltCompiler();
XsltExecutable executable = compiler.compile(new StreamSource("stylesheet.xsl"));
XsltProcessor processor = executable.load();
processor.setSource(new StreamSource("input.xml"));
processor.setDestination(new Serializer(System.out));
processor.transform();

Causes

• Not including Saxon libraries in your project's classpath.
• Using incorrect or incompatible version of Saxon with your Java application.
• Misconfiguration of XSLT input or output source paths.

Solutions

• Ensure that you have downloaded the latest Saxon libraries and added them to your classpath.
• Use the correct version of the Saxon library compatible with your Java version.
• Double-check the file paths for your XML and XSLT files to ensure they are correct.

Mistake: Forgetting to include necessary Saxon JAR files in the project.

Solution: Make sure to download and add Saxon-HE (Home Edition) or Saxon-EE to your project's libraries.

Mistake: Using an outdated version of the Saxon processor.

Solution: Download the latest version of Saxon from the official Saxonica website.

Mistake: Not handling exceptions that may arise during transformation.

Solution: Implement proper exception handling for better debugging and error messages.