--- a/flys-artifacts/src/main/java/de/intevation/flys/collections/AttributeWriter.java	Fri Nov 04 10:58:44 2011 +0000
+++ b/flys-artifacts/src/main/java/de/intevation/flys/collections/AttributeWriter.java	Fri Nov 04 11:59:08 2011 +0000
@@ -134,11 +134,16 @@
         Element output = cr.create("output");
         cr.addAttr(output, "name", outputName);
 
-        outs.appendChild(output);
 
         List<String> compatibleFacets = this.compatibilities.get(outputName);
         try {
-            writeFacets(doc, cr, output, newOutFacets, oldOutFacets, compatibleFacets);
+            if (writeFacets(
+                    doc, cr, output, newOutFacets, oldOutFacets,
+                    compatibleFacets))
+            {
+                // Add output element only if it contains facets.
+                outs.appendChild(output);
+            }
         }
         catch (ArtifactDatabaseException ade) {
             logger.error(ade, ade);
@@ -153,8 +158,9 @@
      * @param newFacets the new facets
      * @param oldFacets the old facets
      * @param compatibleFacets List of facets to accept
+     * @return true if any facets are written to the out.
      */
-    protected void writeFacets(
+    protected boolean writeFacets(
         Document       doc,
         ElementCreator cr,
         Element        output,
@@ -165,7 +171,7 @@
     {
         if (compatibleFacets == null) {
             logger.warn("No compatible facets, not generating out.");
-            return;
+            return false;
         }
 
         int num = newFacets.size();
@@ -253,6 +259,8 @@
                 output.appendChild(node);
             }
         }
+
+        return currentFacets.size() > 0;
     }