Adding sub tags to a JSF page

Adding sub tags to a JSF page

A number of JSF tags have special child tags (sub tags) used to specify options.

Create a JSF enabled dynamic Web project.

Create a JSF page.

Add the parent tag. For more information about adding JSF components, refer to Adding JSF components to Web pages.

The method by which sub tags are added to a component varies based on the subtag.

The available sub tags are:
Table 1. Adding sub tags to a JWL JSF component
Sub tag component¹ Sub tag Description Parent tags How is component added to a page?
Attribute <f:attribute> Adds an attribute (name/value pair) to a parent tag.

<h:dataTable>

<h:column>
In the JSP Source editor, type <f:attribute /> before the closing parent tag.
Convert Date/Time <f:convertDateTime> Convert a DateTime from a string to a value and vice versa.

<h:inputText>

<h:inputMiniCalendar>

<h:ouputText>

Select
Date/Time in the
Format list in the Properties view for the parent tag.
To configure the f:convertDateTime sub tag, right-click the
f:convertDateTime sub tag in the JSP source editor and select
Properties.
Convert Date/Time (ICU4J) <hx:convertDateTime> Extension of the standard <f:convertDateTime> that uses ICU4J in it's implementation instead of the Java util classes.

<h:inputText>

<h:inputMiniCalendar>

<h:ouputText>

Select
Date/Time in the
Format list in the Properties view for the parent tag.
To configure the hx:convertDateTime sub tag, right-click the
hx:convertDateTime sub tag in the JSP source editor and select
Properties.

Note: This component is only available on the Enhanced Faces Components drawer of the palette.
Convert Masked String <hx:convertMask> Convert a formatted (masked) string to a value and vice versa.

<h:inputText>

<h:ouputText>

Select
Mask from the
Format list.
To configure the hx:convertMask sub tag, right-click the
hx:convertMask sub tag in the JSP source editor and select
Properties.
Convert Number <f:convertNumber> Convert a Number from a string to a value and vice versa.

<h:inputText>

<h:ouputText>

Select
Number from the
Format list.
To configure the f:convertNumber sub tag, right-click the
f:convertNumber sub tag in the JSP source editor and select
Properties.
Convert Number (ICU4J) <hx:convertNumber> Extension of the standard <f:convertNumber> that uses ICU4J in it's implementation instead of the Java util classes.

<h:inputText>

<h:ouputText>

Select
Number from the
Format list.
To configure the hx:convertNumber sub tag, right-click the
hx:convertNumber sub tag in the JSP source editor and select
Properties.
File Upload Property <hx:fileProp> Used as a subtag of hx:fileupload to hold properties of the uploaded file. <hx:fileupload> The file upload property subtag is automatically added to your page when you drag <hx:fileupload> to your page.
To configure the sub tag, right-click<hx:fileupload> and select
Properties.
Facet <f:facet> Adds a sub-part to a complex component such as a data table.

<h:dataTable>

<h:column>

<hx:panelMenu>

<hx:panelSection>
In the JSP Source editor, type <f:facet /> before the closing parent tag.
*Parameter <f:param> Adds a parameter to a URL emitted by a parent tag.

<h:outputLinkEx>

<hx:requestLink>
Click
Add Parameter on the
Parameter tab of the parent tag Properties view.
Select Item <f:selectItem> Creates an item in a tag that contains options such as a combo box.

<h:selectBooleanCheckbox>

<h:selectManyCheckbox>

<h:selectOneListbox>

<h:selectManyListbox>

<h:selectOneRadio>

<h:selectOneMenu>

<h:selectManyMenu>

<hx:selectOneColor>
Click
Add Choice on the patent tag tab in the Properties view.
Select Items <f:selectItems> Creates a set of items in a tag that contains options such as a combo box.

<h:selectBooleanCheckbox>

<h:selectManyCheckbox>

<h:selectOneListbox>

<h:selectManyListbox>

<h:selectOneRadio>

<h:selectOneMenu>

<h:selectManyMenu>

<hx:selectOneColor>
Click
Add Set of Choices on the parent tag tab in the Properties view.
Validate EL expression <hx:validateConstraint> Validate a value using an EL expression. <h:inputText>

Select
String from the
Format list on the parent tag tab of the Properties view.

Click the
Validation tab.

Click
Use simple validation then select a constraint from the
Constraint list.

Validate Date/Time Range <hx:validateDateTimeRange> Validate that a date/time value is greater than and/or less than a bound.

<h:inputText>

<h:inputMiniCalendar>

Select
Date/Time from the
Format list on the parent tag tab of the Properties view.

Click the
Validation tab.

Click
Use simple validation then type
Minimum and/or
Maximum.

Validate Regular Expression <hx:validateExpression> Validate a value using a regular expression.

<h:inputText>

<h:inputMiniCalendar>

Click
Use advanced validation on the
Validation tab of the parent tag in the Properties view.

Type a validation expression in the
Advanced validation expression field or click
Expression Builder to create the validation expression.

Validate Modulus Self Check <hx:validateModulusSelfCheck> Validate a numeric value to see if it passes the Modulus self check algorithm. <h:inputText>

In the JSP Source editor, type <hx:validateModulusSelfCheck /> before the closing parent tag.

To configure the validate modulus self check sub tag, specify which modulus algorithm to use in the validation, in the Properties view.

*Verbatim <f:verbatim> Inserts a verbatim tag that lets you add HTML directly onto a Faces JSP page. Any JSF tag that can contain a JSP tag. Drag the Verbatim component from the palette onto the parent component.

Table 2. Adding custom actions to a JWL JSF component
Custom action Tag Description
Action Listener <f:actionListener> Responds to a specific action event.
Converter <f:converter> Converts an object to a string or a string to an object.
Load Bundle <f:loadBundle> Loads a resource bundle localized for the locale of the current view.
Validate Double Range <f:validateDoubleRange> Checks the value of a component against the specified minimum and maximum values.
Validate Length <f:validateLength> Checks the number of characters in the String representation of the value.
Validate Long Range <f:validateLongRange> Checks the value of a component against the specified minimum and maximum values.
Validator <f:validator> Checks for correctness.
Value Change Listener <f:valueChangeListener> Responds to a change in a specific action.

¹ Click the link to see the component properties.

Sub tag component¹	Sub tag	Description	Parent tags	How is component added to a page?
Attribute	<f:attribute>	Adds an attribute (name/value pair) to a parent tag.	<h:dataTable> <h:column>	In the JSP Source editor, type <f:attribute /> before the closing parent tag.
Convert Date/Time	<f:convertDateTime>	Convert a DateTime from a string to a value and vice versa.	<h:inputText> <h:inputMiniCalendar> <h:ouputText>	Select Date/Time in the Format list in the Properties view for the parent tag. To configure the f:convertDateTime sub tag, right-click the f:convertDateTime sub tag in the JSP source editor and select Properties.
Convert Date/Time (ICU4J)	<hx:convertDateTime>	Extension of the standard <f:convertDateTime> that uses ICU4J in it's implementation instead of the Java util classes.	<h:inputText> <h:inputMiniCalendar> <h:ouputText>	Select Date/Time in the Format list in the Properties view for the parent tag. To configure the hx:convertDateTime sub tag, right-click the hx:convertDateTime sub tag in the JSP source editor and select Properties. Note: This component is only available on the Enhanced Faces Components drawer of the palette.
Convert Masked String	<hx:convertMask>	Convert a formatted (masked) string to a value and vice versa.	<h:inputText> <h:ouputText>	Select Mask from the Format list. To configure the hx:convertMask sub tag, right-click the hx:convertMask sub tag in the JSP source editor and select Properties.
Convert Number	<f:convertNumber>	Convert a Number from a string to a value and vice versa.	<h:inputText> <h:ouputText>	Select Number from the Format list. To configure the f:convertNumber sub tag, right-click the f:convertNumber sub tag in the JSP source editor and select Properties.
Convert Number (ICU4J)	<hx:convertNumber>	Extension of the standard <f:convertNumber> that uses ICU4J in it's implementation instead of the Java util classes.	<h:inputText> <h:ouputText>	Select Number from the Format list. To configure the hx:convertNumber sub tag, right-click the hx:convertNumber sub tag in the JSP source editor and select Properties.
File Upload Property	<hx:fileProp>	Used as a subtag of hx:fileupload to hold properties of the uploaded file.	<hx:fileupload>	The file upload property subtag is automatically added to your page when you drag <hx:fileupload> to your page. To configure the sub tag, right-click<hx:fileupload> and select Properties.
Facet	<f:facet>	Adds a sub-part to a complex component such as a data table.	<h:dataTable> <h:column> <hx:panelMenu> <hx:panelSection>	In the JSP Source editor, type <f:facet /> before the closing parent tag.
*Parameter	<f:param>	Adds a parameter to a URL emitted by a parent tag.	<h:outputLinkEx> <hx:requestLink>	Click Add Parameter on the Parameter tab of the parent tag Properties view.
Select Item	<f:selectItem>	Creates an item in a tag that contains options such as a combo box.	<h:selectBooleanCheckbox> <h:selectManyCheckbox> <h:selectOneListbox> <h:selectManyListbox> <h:selectOneRadio> <h:selectOneMenu> <h:selectManyMenu> <hx:selectOneColor>	Click Add Choice on the patent tag tab in the Properties view.
Select Items	<f:selectItems>	Creates a set of items in a tag that contains options such as a combo box.	<h:selectBooleanCheckbox> <h:selectManyCheckbox> <h:selectOneListbox> <h:selectManyListbox> <h:selectOneRadio> <h:selectOneMenu> <h:selectManyMenu> <hx:selectOneColor>	Click Add Set of Choices on the parent tag tab in the Properties view.
Validate EL expression	<hx:validateConstraint>	Validate a value using an EL expression.	<h:inputText>	Select String from the Format list on the parent tag tab of the Properties view. Click the Validation tab. Click Use simple validation then select a constraint from the Constraint list.
Validate Date/Time Range	<hx:validateDateTimeRange>	Validate that a date/time value is greater than and/or less than a bound.	<h:inputText> <h:inputMiniCalendar>	Select Date/Time from the Format list on the parent tag tab of the Properties view. Click the Validation tab. Click Use simple validation then type Minimum and/or Maximum.
Validate Regular Expression	<hx:validateExpression>	Validate a value using a regular expression.	<h:inputText> <h:inputMiniCalendar>	Click Use advanced validation on the Validation tab of the parent tag in the Properties view. Type a validation expression in the Advanced validation expression field or click Expression Builder to create the validation expression.
Validate Modulus Self Check	<hx:validateModulusSelfCheck>	Validate a numeric value to see if it passes the Modulus self check algorithm.	<h:inputText>	In the JSP Source editor, type <hx:validateModulusSelfCheck /> before the closing parent tag. To configure the validate modulus self check sub tag, specify which modulus algorithm to use in the validation, in the Properties view.
*Verbatim	<f:verbatim>	Inserts a verbatim tag that lets you add HTML directly onto a Faces JSP page.	Any JSF tag that can contain a JSP tag.	Drag the Verbatim component from the palette onto the parent component.

Custom action	Tag	Description
Action Listener	<f:actionListener>	Responds to a specific action event.
Converter	<f:converter>	Converts an object to a string or a string to an object.
Load Bundle	<f:loadBundle>	Loads a resource bundle localized for the locale of the current view.
Validate Double Range	<f:validateDoubleRange>	Checks the value of a component against the specified minimum and maximum values.
Validate Length	<f:validateLength>	Checks the number of characters in the String representation of the value.
Validate Long Range	<f:validateLongRange>	Checks the value of a component against the specified minimum and maximum values.
Validator	<f:validator>	Checks for correctness.
Value Change Listener	<f:valueChangeListener>	Responds to a change in a specific action.