Resolve EL variables in Javascript with FacesServlet

Question

I was externalizing in a file all my Javascript code inside and application, and to resolve all the EL variables inside the code I tried to use BalusC solution 2 proposed as an answer to this SO question.

I am trying to use the Faces Servlet to handle JS files when requested. The problem comes that when I set up so, the JS file is not found, and I can't guess where the problem is. This is my web.xml

<mime-mapping>
<extension>js</extension>
<mime-type>application/x-javascript</mime-type>
</mime-mapping>
 <servlet>
  <servlet-name>Faces Servlet</servlet-name>
  <servlet-class>javax.faces.webapp.FacesServlet</servlet-class>
  <load-on-startup>1</load-on-startup>
 </servlet>
 <servlet-mapping>
  <servlet-name>Faces Servlet</servlet-name>
  <url-pattern>*.xhtml</url-pattern>
 </servlet-mapping>
  <servlet-mapping>
  <servlet-name>Faces Servlet</servlet-name>
  <url-pattern>/js/myapp-functions.js</url-pattern>
 </servlet-mapping>

If I try to get the file through http://localhost:8080/myappname/js/myapp-functions.js I get a 404 error. The file is there (double checked). If I remove the mapping for the JS file, I can get the file normally (but as stated, the EL variables are not resolved).

Any suggestions? Thanks in advance.

Answer 1

The actual file extension should match javax.faces.DEFAULT_SUFFIX which defaults to *.xhtml. Note that you need to wrap the entire page inside a <script></script>, else Facelets' SAX parser will complain about a non-wellformed document.