Question

I have a page with a data table. I want some of the items in the tables to be linked to a corresponding view page.

For example, right now I have a table with no links:

<h:dataTable var="bean" value="#{beanServiceImpl.beans}" border="1">
    <h:column>#{bean.id}</h:column>
  </h:dataTable>

I want to add hyperlinks to some entries and have them go to a view page showing them more info based on their id:

  <h:dataTable var="bean" value="#{beanServiceImpl.beans}" border="1">
    <h:column>
        <a href="viewBean.xhtml?id=#{bean.id}">#{bean.id}</a>
    </h:column>
  </h:dataTable>

ViewBean.xhtml will contain something like this:

ViewBean.xhtml

<ul>
  <li>ID: #{bean.id}</li>
  <li>Field 1: #{bean.field1}</li>
  <li>Field 2: #{bean.field2}</li>
</ul>

How do I accomplish something like this in JSF? I know that I’ll have to write a controller to query the id for the other fields. But how do I make viewBean.xhtml run the business logic to get the other fields and render it?

Answer 1

The BalusC’s answer is almost good, but will not work (edit: it works now).

You already know, how to add the value to the params. BTW, if I were you, I would not use <a href>, but instead:

<h:link outcome='viewBean'>
    <f:param name='id' value='#{bean.id}' />
</h:link>

Now you have to choices when it comes to catching the value. The simplest would be to add annotation above your id property:

@ManagedProperty("#{param.id}") // this will inject id from param into id
private Long id;


//  (getters and setters are obligatory)


@PostConstruct // this will execute init() after id is injected
public void init() {

}

And the last thing: having a variable named “bean” has no more sense than calling it “variable” (or having a dog named Dog and cat named Cat). It carries no information and worse, it makes all the beans in your application indistinguishable (unless you build a legumes manager).