Re: [Springframework-developer] non-String keys for map entries

[Colin S. <col...@ex...>]

btw Thomas, a few people have suggested a variation of your first choice 
below. However, while that covers having a key that's a bean reference, 
it doesn't cover the case where it's defined inline (as a value or other 
type)...


tho...@tr... wrote:

>I too think this would be valuable.
>
>I'd like to keep it simple.  The following seems to me the most consistent with
>the current syntax and with the Map interface itself:
>
><map>
>  <entry keyref="myBean">
>    <ref bean="myTarget"/>
>  </entry>
></map>
>
>or 
>
><map>
>  <entry>
>    <key>
>      <ref bean="myKeyBean"/>
>    </key>
>    <value>
>      <ref bean="myTargetBean"/>
>    </value>
>  </entry>
></map>
>
>This should also be valid, but I would not recommend using it:
>
><map>
>  <entry>
>    <key>
>      <ref bean="myKeyBean"/>
>    </key>
>    <ref bean="myTargetBean"/>
>  </entry>
></map>
>
>
>Thomas
>
>
>
>Quoting Colin Sampaleanu <col...@ex...>:
>
>  
>
>>I agree it would be very good to have. I've been hit a few times by the 
>>lack.
>>
>>I am ok with your syntax, given that probably most of the uses will 
>>still be the simple case. An alternative would be to have another kind 
>>of entry allowed
>>
>><map>
>>  <complexentry>
>>    <key>
>>      <ref bean="myKey"/>
>>    </key>
>>    <value>
>>      <ref bean="myTarget"/>
>>    </value>
>>  </complexentry>
>></map>
>>
>>'complexentry' is just a name I came up with now. I don't really like it 
>>or think it that suitable...
>>
>>Colin
>>
>>
>>jürgen höller [werk3AT] wrote:
>>
>>    
>>
>>>A colleague of mine just suggested that <entry> tags in XML bean definitions
>>>      
>>>
>>should also support non-String keys: After all, a java.util.Map can take any
>>Object as key.
>>    
>>
>>>So instead of just the current:
>>>
>>><map>
>>> <entry key="myKey">
>>>   <ref bean="myTarget"/>
>>> </entry>
>>></map>
>>>
>>>We could also support something like the following:
>>>
>>><map>
>>> <entry>
>>>   <key>
>>>     <ref bean="myKey"/>
>>>   </key>
>>>   <ref bean="myTarget"/>
>>> </entry>
>>></map>
>>>
>>>The problem is the syntax: It looks odd to have the <ref> Map value at the
>>>      
>>>
>>same level as the <key> subtag, with the latter having a nested <ref>
>>again...
>>    
>>
>>>Any ideas?
>>>
>>>Juergen
>>>      
>>>