Using XML attribute value as XSL variable

Question

So I am trying to generate xml based on an xml boolean radio option. But as I am new to xsl in general, the variable concept at this depth is a bit out of my reach.

My XML:

<item name="commentOutNode" pathid="commentOutNode">
  <radio>
    <option label="Yes" value="true"/>
    <option label="No" value="false" selected="t"/>
  </radio>
</item>

My Current XSL:

<xsl:variable name="commentOutNode" select="commentOutNode/@value[.]"/>
***
(a ways down)
***
<xsl:when test="$commentOutNode = true">
    # do this stuff
</xsl:when>
<xsl:otherwise>
    # do this other stuff
</xsl:otherwise>

How can I leverage the selected radio option's value for the xsl variable and then test what it is?

Answer 1

To get the value attribute of the selected option of the item with name commentOutNode use the XPath:

//item[@name='commentOutNode']/radio/option[@selected='t']/@value  

To set a variable with such value:

<xsl:variable name="selectedValue" select="//item[@name='commentOutNode']/radio/option[@selected='t']/@value"/>  

To test the variable:

<xsl:choose>
   <xsl:when test="$selectedValue='true'">
      . . . 
   </xsl:when>
   <xsl:otherwise>
       . . . 
   </xsl:otherwise>
</xsl:choose>