JSF f:validateBean validationGroups not updating - jsf

Question

Im am using bean validation with JSF2.0. I have a validation group which I specify depending on a few conditions and link to a attribute in the managed bean. The attribute is assigned when the page first loads and works correctly (i.e. when the form is submitted the correct groups are validated). However if I change this property the validation groups are not updated and whatever the original value was set to will be used.
for example:
JSF fragment:
<h:selectOneMenu id="unitOfMerchandise" value="#itemManager[targetBean].unitOfMerchandise}">
<f:selectItem itemLabel="-- select --" itemValue="" />
<f:selectItems value="#{itemManager.unitsOfMerchandise}" />
<f:validateBean validationGroups="#{itemManager.validatorClass}" />
</h:selectOneMenu>
Method:
#ManagedBean
#ViewScoped
public class ItemManager implements Serializable {
private String validatorClass = "com.rcs.itemmngr.model.validation.RegularItem"
private OpenItemRequest openItemRequest
private void onItemTypeSelected() {
validatorClass = itemManagerModel.getValidatorItemRequestClass(openItemRequest).getName();
}
///getters setters
}
Any ideas on how to get this to work? I have also looked for a way to change the validation groups programmatically in the managed bean but with no joy.

Answer 1

f:validateBean gruops are evaluated once: when the component tree is built. There seem to be no simple way to update them.
You can either update them manually per component:
//bind you component here
EditableValueHolder input;
//call this to update groups
public void setValidationGroups(String validationGroups) {
for (Validator validator : input.getValidators()) {
if (!(validator instanceof BeanValidator)) {
continue;
}
BeanValidator beanValidator = (BeanValidator) validator;
beanValidator.setValidationGroups(validationGroups);
}
}
Or you can use approach described in this article:
Delete the components holding unwanted state
The idea is to remove components with f:validateBean from tree, so
they will be reinitialized on rendering with new groups:
parentComponent.getChildren().clear();
e.g. if you are executing and rendering a section, you can call
somethig like this in actionListner:
public void resetContactsValidationGroups() {
FacesContext ctx = FacesContext.getCurrentInstance();
Iterator<String> ids = ctx.getPartialViewContext().getExecuteIds().iterator();
while (ids.hasNext()) {
ctx.getViewRoot().findComponent(ids.next()).getChildren().clear();
}
}