How do I force a managed bean to initialize first? - jsf

I have a navigation managed bean for each user.
and I need it to initialize first before any other bean because a value is required from the bean.
May I know how do I perform that?
I have tried eager="true" but it doesn't work.
any quick and easy solution via faceconfig would be greatly appreciated.

Just perform the desired initialization job in bean's #PostConstruct.
#PostConstruct
public void init() {
// Here.
}
It'll be invoked when the bean is injected/referenced from another bean for the first time.
The eager=true works only on application scoped beans.

From what I see you should reference the other bean. Let's assume a have a utility class that can pull a bean from the context.
Basically ->
//Bean A
public void doSomething()
{
String required = Utility.getBeanB().getRequiredValue();
use(required);
}
...
//Bean B
public String getRequiredValue()
{
return "Hi, I'm a required value";
}
I have several large web apps that have a "Session Bean" that stores stuff like user preferences, shared objects etc... and this method works perfectly. By using a reference to the bean you eliminate the need to chain the initialization. That method will always DEPEND on the method in the other bean, thus guaranteeing the order of initialization.
There's a variety of ways to access the bean but I usually go through the EL route ->
Get JSF managed bean by name in any Servlet related class
Best of luck, I try to stay "functionally pure" when I can--and I hope that get's a laugh considering the language!

Here's some cool hax for ya, in case other solutions aren't working for you due to various circumstances...
Let's say I have a class Alpha that I want initialized first:
public class Alpha {
#PostConstruct
public void init() {
}
}
I can put the following method in Alpha:
#ManagedBean(name = "Alpha", eager = true)
public class Alpha {
public static void requireAlpha() {
FacesContext context = FacesContext.getCurrentInstance();
Object alpha = context.getApplication().evaluateExpressionGet(context, "#{Alpha}", Object.class);
System.out.println("Alpha required: " + alpha.toString());
}
#PostConstruct
public void init() {
}
}
Then, in any classes that are initializing too early, simply call:
Alpha.requireAlpha();
// ...
// (Code that requires Alpha to be initialized first.)
And if there's a ChildAlpha class that extends Alpha that you really want to be initialized (rather than the parent), make sure to use "ChildAlpha" instead, in both the name="" and the EL Expression ("#{}").
See here for more infos: Get JSF managed bean by name in any Servlet related class

Related

How to evaluate which page to show in PostConstruct?

Imagine this situation:
I have a SessionScoped bean (named TheSessionBean) that is a ManagedProperty of another bean (named AnotherBean).
#ManagedBean
#ViewScoped
public class AnotherBean implements Serializable {
#PostConstruct
public void init() {
//Evaluate here!
}
#ManagedProperty(value = "#{theSessionBean}")
private TheSessionBean theSessionBean;
//Getter and Setter...
}
I need to evaluate the value of the ManagedProperty (theSessionBean) in order to know if a page can be showed without the user interaction and before the page is shown.
As I understand this must be evaluated in the PostConstruct method (so I can get the value of the Session of the ManagedProperty).
TheSessionBean has only a String property named permission.
So first of all I need to know if:
theSessionBean.getPermission() == null in order to redirect to a page named one
theSessionBean.getPermission().equals("two") in order to redirect to a page named two
More evaluations...
The problem is that the PostConstruct method must be void and I need to redirect to the corresponding page.
How can I do that?
You can use ExternalContext.redirect in your PostConstruct method.
if (someCondition)) {
ExternalContext ec = FacesContext.getCurrentInstance().getExternalContext();
ec.redirect(ec.getRequestContextPath() + "/one");
}
Best practice is to use JSF system events- PreRenderViewEvent PostConstructApplicationEvent PreDestroyApplicationEvent
JSF events

How to pass bean property from one view to another view

I'm using JSF 2.1 and Primefaces:
I have a view scoped managed bean with a managed property and a method that set something on other view scoped managed bean and forward to other page referencing that managed bean:
#ManagedBean
#ViewScoped
public class HelloMB {
#ManagedProperty("otherMB")
private OtherMB other;
public String changeOtherMB() {
otherMB.setAnyObject(new Object());
return "otherPage.xhtml";
}
}
#ManagedBean
#ViewScoped
public class OtherMB {
private Object o;
public void setAnyObject(Object o) {
this.o = o;
}
}
So, when otherPage is rendered o is null.
You have idea how could I solve this? How can I retain an Object in a #ViewScoped managed bean and keep it live on other page without using #SessionScoped?
The view scope is destroyed and recreated once you navigate to a different JSF view. You know, the view scope lives as long as you're interacting with the same JSF view. In this particular case you effectively end up with two instances of the #{otherMB} managed bean during one request. One instance which is used by the source view and another instance which is used by the destination view.
As the second view is created within the very same request, you could just pass it as a request attribute.
#ManagedBean
#ViewScoped
public class HelloMB implements Serializable {
public String changeOtherMB() {
ExternalContext ec = FacesContext.getCurrentInstance().getExternalContext();
ec.getRequestMap().put("anyObject", anyObject);
return "otherPage.xhtml";
}
}
#ManagedBean
#ViewScoped
public class OtherMB {
private Object anyObject;
#PostConstruct
public void init() {
ExternalContext ec = FacesContext.getCurrentInstance().getExternalContext();
this.anyObject = ec.getRequestMap().get("anyObject");
}
}
I however wonder if you're aware about the importance of idempotent vs non-idempotent requests. Perhaps you actually need a "plain vanilla" link without the need to invoke a view scoped bean action method. See the last "See also" link below for an extensive example on that.
See also:
How to choose the right bean scope?
How to navigate in JSF? How to make URL reflect current page (and not previous one)
Creating master-detail pages for entities, how to link them and which bean scope to choose

Initialization of List in a JSF Managed bean

I' have a question about initialization of List in the POJO as it follows the next code:
public class Person {
//other fields...
private List<String> friends=new ArrayList<>();
public List<String> getFriends() {
return friends;
}
public void setFriends(List<String> friends) {
this.friends = friends;
}
}
OR is it better like this and have initalization in other class(like for example Bean(JSF))
public class Person {
//other fields...
private List<String> friends;
public List<String> getFriends() {
return friends;
}
public void setFriends(List<String> friends) {
this.friends = friends;
}
}
So my question is what approach is better?
If it's a managed bean as you say, you should do this in a method annotated with #PostConstruct
public class Person {
private List<String> friends;
#PostConstruct
public void init(){
friends = new ArrayList<String>();
}
//getter and setter...
}
The practice of doing any initialization in the getter and setter is generally frowned upon within the context of JSF. See Why JSF calls getters multiple times
Also, per the API for #PostConstruct, the contract specifies safety features and guarantees that if an exception is thrown in a method annotated as such, the bean should not be put into service. There are no such guarantees on a plain constructor.
In a managed bean, injection happens immediately after construction. This means that any operations you're carrying out in the constructor cannot depend on any injected resources (via #ManagedProperty). Whereas in a #PostConstruct method, you'll have access to all the resources declared on the managed bean
EDIT: It's important to note that there can be only one #PostConstruct for any #ManagedBean, so all important initializations should happen in there.
It's also worthwhile to note that, while the #PostConstruct method is the ideal place to initialize a backing bean variable/List, there are implications regarding the scope of the managed bean
#RequestScoped: In a managed bean with this annotation, the method will be called per submit of the JSF view concerned. A #RequestScoped bean is destroyed and recreated with every request, The implication of this is that depending on your setup, the list initialized in the #PostConstruct may be reset to empty or default values during each request. Under certain circumstances, conversion errors may occur as a result of the re-initialization of the list mid-JSF request.
#ViewScoped: In a managed bean with this annotation, you're guaranteed to have the #PostConstruct method run once, if and only if you're dealing with the same instance of the #ViewScoped bean. If the viewscoped bean is destroyed and recreated, the #PostConstruct method will run again.
#SessionScoped: A bean with this annotation is created once and stays alive until the user's HTTP session ends. In this scenario, the #PostConstruct method is guaranteed to run once and only once until the bean is destroyed
See also
https://stackoverflow.com/a/3406631/1530938
I would suggest this:
public class Person {
//other fields...
private List<String> friends=new ArrayList<>();
// returns a copy to protect original list
public List<String> getFriends() {
Collections.unmodifiableList(new ArrayList<>(friends));
}
public void addFriend(String> friend) {
this.friends.add(friend);
}
public void addFriends(List<String> friends) {
this.friends.addAll(friends);
}
}
In my opinion it would be best to handle that in the constructors. If a default constructor is used, initialize the list in the constructor.
public Person() {
friends = new ArrayList<>();
}
If a constructor which accepts parameters is used, let the calling class pass in a list.
public Person(ArrayList<> friends) {
this.friends = friends;//friends
}
My suggestion, add a null check in the getter:
public class Person {
//other fields...
private List<String> friends;
public List<String> getFriends() {
if (this.friends == null) friends = new ArrayList<String>();
return friends;
}
}
But also notice I have omitted the setter. Instead, in any client code, call like this:
personInstance.getFriends().add("Some Item");
Or if you have a full list to add:
personInstance.getFriends().addAll(someStringCollection);
It depends. Usually first way preferable because you may want to add something to collection later. If you won't know was your collection initialized or not you must check it every time.

Rollback transaction inside managed bean

I would like to rollback transaction not inside EJB but inside JSF managed bean. Inside EJB we can use SessionContext.setRollBackOnly() but what can I use in managed bean ?
#Stateless
#Local(AccountLocal.class)
public class AccountBean implements AccountLocal {
public void test1() throws CustomException(){
...
}
public void test2() throws CustomException(){
...
throw new CustomException();
}
public void test3() throws CustomException(){
...
}
public void all() throws CustomException(){
test1();
test2();
test3();
}
}
In my managed bean :
#SessionScoped
public class LoginBean implements Serializable{
public void test(){
try{
accountBean.test1();
accountBean.test2();
accountBean.test3();
}catch(CustomException e){
// WHAT HERE TO ROLLBACK TRANSACTION ?
}
}
}
EDIT : How can I ensure that if one of the test1, test2 or test3 rolls back, others will roll back too ?
I tested this code and accountBean.test1(); is validated even if accountBean.test2(); rolls back.
Could the solution be only to nest this 3 methods inside one EJB method ?
#SessionScoped
public class LoginBean implements Serializable{
public void test(){
try{
accountBean.all();
}catch(CustomException e){
...
}
}
}
Transactions are automatically rolled back by the EJB container if an unchecked exception is thrown (note that JPA's PersistenceException is such one). Your CustomException seems to be a checked exception. If changing it to extend RuntimeException as follows
public class CustomException extends RuntimeException {
// ...
}
or creating a new one is not an option, then you need to set the #ApplicationException annotation on the class with the rollback attribute set to true.
E.g.
#ApplicationException(rollback=true)
public class CustomException extends Exception {
// ...
}
Please note that the concrete problem has nothing to do with JSF. The service layer and managing transactions is completely outside the responsibility of JSF. It's the responsibility of EJB instead. JSF should merely act as "view" in this perspective.
See also:
JSF Service Layer
Handling service layer exception in Java EE frontend method
I'm playing the Devil's advocate here, since BalusC's advice that you should not let your backing beans act as services is absolutely true.
But, purely as a technical excersise, it -is- possible to start a JTA transaction in a backing bean and then control start and commit or rollback programmatically.
You can do this by injecting a UserTransaction via #Resource. Prior to calling your EJB methods, call start on this instance, and after the last call either commit or rollback.
Again, this is a purely theoretical answer. In practice, don't do this and let the backing bean call 1 EJB method that calls out to other EJB beans if needed.

NullpointerException Binding not working JSF managed bean

I created a simple HtmlInputText
<h:inputText binding="#{IndexBean.objUIInput}" />
Then in my managed bean, it is :-
private UIInput objUIInput;
public UIInput getObjUIInput() {
objUIInput.setValue("laala");
return objUIInput;
}
public void setObjUIInput(UIInput objUIInput) {
System.out.println("Set!!");
this.objUIInput = objUIInput;
}
But i always get NullpointerException. Do i need to do anything extra on my JSF page? like we do jsp:usebean setproperty? Please help me.
Whenever you'd like to change the component's default state/behaviour prior to display, then you need to instantiate it yourself. I.e. during declaration:
private UIInput objUIInput = new HtmlInputText();
or during construction:
public Bean() {
this.objUIInput = new HtmlInputText();
}
or, as Bozho suggested, using #PostConstruct:
#PostConstruct
public void init() {
this.objUIInput = new HtmlInputText();
}
(which will take place after construction of the bean and initialization/setting of all managed properties).
And indeed, you should preferably not do any business logic in getters/setters. They are to be used to access bean properties and they can be called more than once during bean's life.
As per the comments, you can alternatively also move the UIInput#setValue() call to the setter method. JSF will call it once directly after precreating the component.
public void setObjUIInput(UIInput objUIInput) {
this.objUIInput = objUIInput;
this.objUIInput.setValue("laala");
}
When you bind a component, the getter and setter are supposed to be simple - only get/set - no logic inside them.
Perhaps the JSF lifecycle is calling the getter to check whether it needs to instantiate the component, and the getter initially would throw a NPE.
Remove all logic from your getter, or at least add a null check.
Actually, I'd advice for not using binding at all.
If you want to set an initial value to your component, use a method annotated with #PostConstruct and assign the value there, then use the value attribute.

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