JSF, how to use EL in onclick.

Question

Hi,

I want to create links using database columns. I have a backing bean where I 'm connecting to the database. There is no problem with the connection and also no problem with the links names. I can see my links on my browser. I want to use onclick function and that's exactly where the problem starts. How can I use or can I use EL in onclick?

A little example:

<h:dataTable rows="7" value="#{frontSiteMenu.links}" var="row"
 styleClass="sitemenu" width="200">
 <h:column>
  <a href="#" onclick="dispNewsGroup('${row.newsGroupId}')"><h:outputText value='#{row.newsGroup}' /></a>
 </h:column>
</h:dataTable>

Thanks.

Answer 1

I take it you are using JSPs?

Use h:outputLink instead of an a tag and change the expression use the # character:

<h:outputLink value="#" onclick="dispNewsGroup('#{row.newsGroupId}')">
    <h:outputText value='#{row.newsGroup}' />
</h:outputLink>

That is untested, but should be close to what you want.

The spec says this about # vs $:

...by convention the J2EE web tier specifications use the ${expr} construct for immediate evaluation and the #{expr} construct for deferred evaluation.

So, in a repeat control where the underlying values change, it is desirable to use deferred evaluation.

There are also issues with using non-JSF tags as children of some JSF controls, so it is best to stick to using JSF controls where possible (though there is a f:verbatim tag). Many of these issues go away if you move to the newer Facelets view technology.

Answer 2

Thank you so much.

But I'm using MyEclipse and I'm new at JSF. Do you know something like Facelets in MyEclipse?

Answer 3

Thank you so much for your help.