From: Ken Paulsen <Ken.Paulsen_at_Sun.COM>
Date: Wed, 17 Jan 2007 10:20:23 -0800

Karam Singh Badesha wrote:

I think I would like to go with the AJAX approach but need more
information on that. In the example on your blog, you used onClick of
button to fire AJAX request. What would be it for a dropDown (onSelect)?
  

Yes, I think that's the right event.  Or perhaps onChange (I'd have to check the documentation to see what the component supports).

And, for the database call I can call my handler from the "!command"
event, right. Is it possible to see a full sample handler file with
correct import statements. And also where does the handler code go in
the application directory structure?
  

Sure see the attached file which is directly from JSFTemplating's source code.  It contains several handlers related to getting / setting values in various "scopes".

You will need to create a "src" directory with package structure and all your .java files.  You'll compile this source with the "apt" utility (instead of javac).  I'd recommend you take a look at JSFTemplating's "demo" directory which serves as an example developer environment with ant build scripts and everything.  It even has an example handler in the "src/org/example/handlers/" directory.

Ken

thanks,
Karam

Ken Paulsen wrote On 01/16/07 20:12,:
  

Hi Karam,

You can do this in a Bean if you'd like.  Many people prefer doing it 
this way.

You can also do this by putting your data in the scope manually.  
JSFTemplating makes this convenient:

<sun:dropDown id="dd1" ...>
    <!beforeCreate
       getDropDownData(arg1="dd1" ... output=>$pageSession{dd1});
    />
</sun:dropDown>

You can also make a dropDown submit itself so that you can populate the 
next dropDown.  In JSFTemplating, you can take action on the that action 
by doing the following:

<sun:dropDown id="dd1"...>
    <!beforeCreate ... />
    <!command
       getDropDownData(arg1="dd2" ... output=>$pageSession{dd2});
    />
</sun:dropDown>

Where the handler(s) in the "!command" event populate the next drop down 
with data.  Doing this approach causes the whole page to refresh, which 
isn't ideal.  You can use Ajax techniques to avoid this.  I wrote a blog 
on how to do this in this environment.  You can read about it here:

    http://blogs.sun.com/paulsen/entry/jsftemplating_dynamicfaces_easy_ajax

I hope this helps.

Ken Paulsen
ken.paulsen@sun.com

Karam Singh Badesha wrote:

    

Hi,
We have a form which is basically database driven and I was wondering 
what is the best way to do this. Here is the scenario:

dropdown1  -> dropdown2 -> dropdown3  -> Button

Database call to fill up dropdown1, then depending on dropdown1 value, 
another database call to fill up dropdown2 ...
After all the fields are filled, user clicks on Button to go the next 
page.

In the dropdown tag options, I don't see how I can specify the values 
without using a bean:
<sun:dropDown items="#{MenuListBean.projectMenuOptions}" />

Now does that mean that I need to make these database calls inside the 
MenuListBean? or is there another way to do this? Any sample code will 
be helpful.

thanks,
-Karam