Question

I have a servlet S which captures the request parameter of the select field option value from JSP A and stores it in request scope.

String test = request.getParameter("option");
    request.setAttribute("select",test);

now this servlet S after processing redirects me again to same JSP A, now in JSP A I have the same option fields and also I have code something like,

 <select name="option">
     <c:choose>
      <c:when test="${select} == All">
      <option id="id" class="cl" value="All" selected>Items</option>                        
    </c:when>
    <c:otherwise>
     <option id="id" class="cl" value="All">All  Items</option>                        
    </c:otherwise>
     </c:choose>
   </select>

But for some reasons code never goes into c:when and it goes directly otherwise section.

Though I have used extensively JSTL,but for some reasons I am unable to get this up.I know value exists in request scope and can see it via c:out tag.Is it possible that we do the post backs to the same page again and again for same session with new values ? Already spend a day on this issue so need third eye to see if I am missing something silly ? Appreciate if someone can take a look.

Answer 1

This is wrong.

<c:when test="${select} == All">

The entire expression has to go inside ${} and strings needs to be quoted.

<c:when test="${select == 'All'}">

See also:

• Our EL wiki page
• Java EE 6 Tutorial – Examples of EL expressions

---

Unrelated to the concrete problem, your concrete functional requirement can be solved in a much simpler manner, without that the servlet needs to copy the parameter:

<select name="option">
    <option id="id" class="cl" value="All" ${param.option == 'All' ? 'selected : ''}>All Items</option>                        
</select>

See also:

• How can I retain HTML form field values in JSP after submitting form to Servlet?
• Our Servlets wiki page