# File rexml/xpath_parser.rb, line 561
  def replace_groups( path, groups=nil )
			return nil unless path
			if groups
				groups.each_index do |index|
					path[/\#{index}\/] = groups[index]
				end
				path
			else
				count = 0
				left = ""
				args = []

				while path =~ /(.*?)(?=\|\)/
					left = left + $1 + "(#{count})"
					right = $'
					count += 1
					path, arg = get_group( right )
					args << arg
				end
				left += path if path and path.length > 0
				[left, args]
			end
		end