Re: [Springframework-developer] New technique for working with <spring:bind>

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I agree that JSP 2.0 tag files for rendering form elements is a *very*=20=

cool idea.  Unfortunately, there will probably be some flack from the=20
community because it won't work on most of the containers out there. =20
However, I think it's a good thing - let's drag those suckers into=20
using JSP 2.0 and help them simplify their lives. ;-) Hopefully more=20
containers will start producing J2EE 1.4-compatible servers.  To my=20
knowledge, only Tomcat, Resin and WebSphere support JSP 2.0.

The one nice thing about the WW tags is that they can actually be used=20=

in both Velocity templates or in JSP pages.  I believe that's=20
accomplished with some Velocity magic that invokes JSP Tags.  It would=20=

be nice if whatever Spring develops (to simplify JSP forms) can also be=20=

used to simplify Velocity forms.

Matt

On May 22, 2004, at 5:48 AM, j=FCrgen h=F6ller [werk3AT] wrote:

> Seth,
>
> I do see what you intend setNestedPath for - I just feel that Matt has=20=

> "misused" it in his example: In his 2-input-field form, setNestedPath=20=

> complicates matters rather than simplifies it; this is definitely=20
> *not* "the Spring version that requires less typing" (as Matt has put=20=

> it). Please read my initial post mainly as direct reaction to Matt's=20=

> blog entry rather than as critique of setNestedPath per se.
>
> For a large number of input fields, setting a specific nested path in=20=

> an outer tag does indeed simplify things. But even more important is=20=

> that it allows for reuse of entire sub-forms, like Jon has pointed out=20=

> with his address example; that was what I had in mind with reusing=20
> bind tag snippets. This usage is similar to setNestedPath on an Errors=20=

> object (which is where you got the original idea from, I assume).
>
> Your "ideal looking page" is exactly what I envisage as optimal use of=20=

> JSP 2.0 with Spring! With such concise input field syntax, specifying=20=

> the nested path in an outer tag already makes sense for a small number=20=

> of fields - agreed. It might be worth designing a "form:form" tag (as=20=

> JSP 2.0 tag file) that sets the nested path (using setNestedPath=20
> underneath) but also renders a corresponding HTML form tag, analogous=20=

> to Struts' "html:form".
>
> So moving forward, I consider adding a setNestedPath-style tag to=20
> Spring's standard tag library, possibly as "spring:nestedPath" (no=20
> "set" in the name, analogous to "spring:htmlEscape"). This does make=20=

> sense both with and without JSP 2.0, so should be part of Spring's=20
> standard (Java-coded) tag library, I guess. Multiple=20
> "spring:nestedPath" tags could also be nested, building hierarchical=20=

> nested paths.
>
> Have you considered donating your "form" tag library (JSP 2.0 tag=20
> files) to Spring? It's exactly what I had in mind with my suggestion=20=

> in yesterday's blog comment. It would be a welcome option in standard=20=

> Spring, and an excellent showcase for JSP 2.0 tag files: high-level=20
> HTML-issuing tags (coded as tag files) built on lower-level value=20
> access tags (classic Java-coded tags).
>
> Such a form tag library coded as JSP 2.0 tag files is much preferable=20=

> to (Struts-style) classic Java-coded tags for each and every input=20
> field type, IMO, mainly because it's so easy to customize. There is=20
> still no HTML content in Java code -rather in JSP tag files. I believe=20=

> that this is a very viable alternative to WebWork's form tags that=20
> issue HTML content from corresponding Velocity templates.
>
> Spring 1.0.2 will be released on Monday, so we should avoid further=20
> new functionality there. I plan to add "spring:nestedPath" for 1.0.3;=20=

> it would be great to already have a basic "form" tag file library in=20=

> that release too (or in 1.1 RC1)! A sample application that=20
> illustrates usage of those tag files is a necessity (of course, that=20=

> sample will require JSP 2.0): maybe alternative JSP views for=20
> JPetStore's Spring web tier?
>
> Juergen
>
>
> ________________________________
>
> Von: spr...@li... im Auftrag=20=

> von Seth Ladd
> Gesendet: Sa 22.05.2004 00:02
> An: spr...@li...
> Betreff: Re: [Springframework-developer] Re: [Springframework-user]=20
> New technique for working with <spring:bind>
>
>
>
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> Hash: SHA1
>
> Thanks Juergen for pointing out this post.
>
>
> | Actually, Seth's version does *not* require less typing: It just
> avoids repeating the command name. Without Seth's setNestedPath tag,
> you'll get the 3 lines per field, saying "command.firstName"
> respectively "command.lastName". I actually prefer the latter; I
> personally don't think that such a setNestedPath tag adds value -=20
> except
> for very repetitive forms where you reuse the same bind tag snippet =
for
> various command names.
>
> That's exactly why I would want it and use it.  I don't want to repeat
> anything.  The setNestedPath tag follows very closely the bind tag.
> That is, just helps with setting scope of a bean that bind is using.
> It's entirely optional, too.  The bind tag works/should work just fine
> without it.  I've found it very useful in developing our JSPs that use
> many fields, where many of the fields are withing nested objects.
>
> I still believe it saves typing for anything more than 2 fields.  =
Also,
> it saves a chance for error, as I'm not repeating the command name =
over
> and over.
>
> Having said that...
>
> |
> | If someone wants to reuse bind tags with specific HTML portions,
> simply turn them into parameterizable snippets: for example, with JSP
> 2.0's tag files. It should be straightforward to define Struts-style
> "html:xxx" custom tags this way, using the bind tag (or
> RequestContext/Errors scriptlets) underneath. I think this is a viable
> alternative to WebWork's way of custom tags rendering Velocity
> templates, being equally powerful.
>
> That's exactly what I, and I suspect many, people are doing right now.
> I've wrapped the bind tag and the logic to render the HTML (for
> instance, select and option tags) inside a tag file.  Using the
> struts-esque tag files + setNestedPath, I'm pretty close to very=20
> minimal
> JSP typing.
>
> I see setNestedPath as an optional, but extremely helpful tag when
> writing anything but the most simple JSP page.  I then see a separate
> set of convinience tags/tag files that render HTML markup as a really
> nice value add that everyone will end up writing anyway.
>
> See the original wiki page that started this.  There is a comment =
there
> that gives examples of these tag files.
>
> My ideal looking page (and what I'm using now):
>
> <springx:setNestedPath path=3D"command">
>
> First Name: <form:text name=3D"firstName"/>
> Last Name: <form:text name=3D"lastName" />
>
> Address:
> <springx:setNestedPath path=3D"address">
> Street1: <form:text name=3D"street1"/>
> Street2: <form:text name=3D"street2"/>
> ...
> </springx:setNestedPath>
>
> <input type=3D"submit"/>
> </springx:setNestedPath>
>
> Hope that helps.
>
> Thanks,
> Seth
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