v, _ := RemoveBrackets(pe)
	if len(v) > 0 {
		return v, nil
	}
	return "", fmt.Errorf("%s is not a valid value path element", pe)
}

// PathN returns the index part of the entire value path element.
// It returns an error if pe is not an index path element.
func PathN(pe string) (int, error) {
	if !IsNPathElement(pe) {
		return -1, fmt.Errorf("%s is not a valid index path element", pe)
	}
	v, _ := RemoveBrackets(pe)

	// Add trim string "{GOROOT}/src/" into trimStrings
	trimStrings = []string{filepath.Join(runtime.GOROOT(), "src") + string(filepath.Separator)}

	// Add all possible path from GOPATH=path1:path2...:pathN
	// as "{path#}/src/" into trimStrings
	for _, goPathString := range goPathList {
		trimStrings = append(trimStrings, filepath.Join(goPathString, "src")+string(filepath.Separator))
	}

		scope.Debug("list type")
		// If the path element has the form [N], a list element is being selected by index. Return the element at index
		// N if it exists.
		if util.IsNPathElement(pe) {
			idx, err := util.PathN(pe)
			if err != nil {
				return nil, false, fmt.Errorf("path %s, index %s: %s", fullPath, pe, err)
			}
			var foundNode any
			if idx >= len(lst) || idx < 0 {
				if !createMissing {