# Why doesn't this work? XML reference

**URL:** <https://forum.kirupa.com/t/why-doesnt-this-work-xml-reference/233607>\
**Category:** Uncategorized\
**Created:** [July 25, 2007, 12:41pm UTC](https://forum.kirupa.com/t/why-doesnt-this-work-xml-reference/233607 "2007-07-25T12:41:53Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![frankonline](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/958977/32.png) [@frankonline](https://forum.kirupa.com/u/frankonline)\
**Post date:** [July 25, 2007, 12:41pm UTC](https://forum.kirupa.com/t/why-doesnt-this-work-xml-reference/233607/1 "2007-07-25T12:41:53Z")

</div>

// Dynamic reference  
var node:XMLList = xml…page.(@id == ‘test’);

// Doesn’t work. Returns null  
trace(node);

// Works. Returns XML  
trace(xml…page.(@id == ‘test’));

Can someone explain this to me?  
Does someone know a workaround or solution for a dynamic reference?

/ Frank