XT Ajax Framework and Web Flow

[keith123]

I am trying to incorporate the XT Ajax Framework into one of my current flows. I have been successful incorporating it into my SimpleFormControllers and wizards, however I am having some mapping issues when trying to incorporate it into webflow. Here's what I have working using one of my wizards (non-webflow).

<bean id="urlMapping" class="org.springframework.web.servlet.handler.SimpleUrlHandlerMapping">
	<property name="interceptors">
		<list>
			<ref bean="ajaxInterceptor"/>							
		</list>
	</property>
	<property name="mappings">
		<props>
		<prop key="/orderWizard.htm">OrderWizardController</prop>
		</props>
	</property>
</bean>

<bean id="ajaxLoadOfficesHandler" class="com.mktg.form.OrderAjaxActions">
</bean>

<bean id="ajaxInterceptor" class="org.springmodules.xt.ajax.AjaxInterceptor">
<property name="handlerMappings">
	<props>
	<prop key="/orderWizard.htm">ajaxLoadOfficesHandler</prop>
	</props>
</property>
</bean>

In web flow I don't see a way to attach an interceptor (in this case AjaxInterceptor) to a specific flow.

My Flows-Servlet.xml:

<bean name="/orderFlow.flw" class="org.springframework.webflow.executor.mvc.FlowController">
	<property name="flowExecutor" ref="flowExecutor"/>
	<property name="cacheSeconds" value="5"/>
</bean>

If anyone has had experience using the XT Ajax Framework and Web Flow your help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

Keith

[klr8]

You can have multiple FlowControllers and attach interceptors like that. Then it just boils down to the same style of config as you have now with your "OrderWizardController".

Also take a look at the shippingrate example that comes with SWF for some SWF-AJAX integration ideas.

Erwin

[keith123]

You can have multiple FlowControllers and attach interceptors like that.Erwin

Could you elaborate a bit more and perhaps provide an example.

I have tried the code below, but obviously it fails because the FlowController doesn't have a setter for interceptors.

<bean name="/orderFlow.flw" class="org.springframework.webflow.executor.mvc.FlowController">
	<property name="flowExecutor" ref="flowExecutor"/>
	<property name="cacheSeconds" value="5"/>
	
	 <property name="interceptors">
		<list>
			<ref bean="ajaxInterceptor"/>
                  </list>
	</property>	
	
</bean>	

<bean id="ajaxLoadOfficesHandler" class="com.mktg.form.OrderAjaxActions">
</bean>

<bean id="ajaxInterceptor" class="org.springmodules.xt.ajax.AjaxInterceptor">
<property name="handlerMappings">
	<props>
	<prop key="/orderFlow.flw">ajaxLoadOfficesHandler</prop>
	</props>
</property>
</bean>

Thanks,

Keith

[klr8]

What I mean is that you can have 2 (or more) Flow controllers, like so:

<bean id="nonAjaxFlows" class="org.springframework.webflow.executor.mvc.FlowController">
	<property name="flowExecutor" ref="flowExecutor"/>
	<property name="cacheSeconds" value="5"/>
</bean>

<bean id="ajaxFlows" class="org.springframework.webflow.executor.mvc.FlowController">
	<property name="flowExecutor" ref="flowExecutor"/>
	<property name="cacheSeconds" value="5"/>
</bean>

And then have your SimpleUrlHandlerMapping apply interceptors as required:

<bean id="ajaxUrlMappings" class="org.springframework.web.servlet.handler.SimpleUrlHandlerMapping">
	<property name="interceptors">
		<list>
			<ref bean="ajaxInterceptor"/>							
		</list>
	</property>
	<property name="mappings">
		<props>
			<prop key="/ajaxFlows.htm">ajaxFlows</prop>
		</props>
	</property>
</bean>

<bean id="urlMappings" class="org.springframework.web.servlet.handler.SimpleUrlHandlerMapping">
	<property name="mappings">
		<props>
			<prop key="/flows.htm">flows</prop>
		</props>
	</property>
</bean>

Erwin

[keith123]

Works great! Thanks!

[keith123]

The issue I am having now is my command object is empty when referenced from an Ajax Event Handler. I understand the Ajax code extends from the BaseCommandController, and web flow does not, and is causing my issue. I was wondering if there is anyway to bridge the gap between the two so that during the flow, when I use an Ajax event handler, I have access to the flows command object.

During my flow I have a button click that fires off an Ajax Event Handler using the code below.

.jsp page

<input type="button" value="Press" onclick="doAjaxAction('loadOffices', this);"> 
<select id="offices">
<option>--- ---</option>
</select>

event handler code (note: orderForm is always null)

public class OrderAjaxActions extends AbstractAjaxHandler{
	public AjaxResponse loadOffices(AjaxActionEvent event) { 
		
	OrderForm orderForm = (OrderForm) event.getCommandObject(); 
…..

order-flow-beans.xml

<beans>
	<bean id="formAction" class="com.mktg.form.OrderFormAction">
		<property name="formObjectName" value="orderForm"/>
		<property name="formObjectClass" value="com.hwa.form.OrderForm"/>
		<property name="formObjectScope" value="CONVERSATION"/>
		....

Thanks for your help,

Keith

[klr8]

I guess you'll need to lookup the formObject in flow scope from your AJAX event handler. Check the following tip for details on how to do that:

http://www.ervacon.com/products/swf/tips/tip1.html

Erwin

[indone]

Hi Erwin
I am using XT in webflow some how it is throwing the error in the ajaxInterceptor .looks everything is fine.is i am missing anything?


org.springframework.beans.factory.BeanCreationExce ption: Error creating bean wit
h name 'ajaxInterceptor' defined in ServletContext resource [/WEB-INF/bpweb-serv
let.xml]: Error setting property values; nested exception is org.springframework
.beans.PropertyBatchUpdateException; nested PropertyAccessExceptions (1) are:
PropertyAccessException 1: org.springframework.beans.MethodInvocationExceptio n:
Property 'handlerMappings' threw exception; nested exception is java.lang.NoClas
sDefFoundError: org/apache/commons/collections/map/MultiValueMap
Caused by:
org.springframework.beans.PropertyBatchUpdateExcep tion; nested PropertyAccessExc
eption details (1) are:
PropertyAccessException 1:
org.springframework.beans.MethodInvocationExceptio n: Property 'handlerMappings'
threw exception; nested exception is java.lang.NoClassDefFoundError: org/apache/
commons/collections/map/MultiValueMap
Caused by:
java.lang.NoClassDefFoundError: org/apache/commons/collections/map/MultiValueMap

at org.springmodules.xt.ajax.AjaxInterceptor.setHandl erMappings(AjaxInte
rceptor.java:274)

	<bean id="ajaxBusinessProfileAjaxActions" class="com.idearc.feeos.web.spring.BusinessProfileAjaxActions" >
	
	</bean>
	
	<bean id="ajaxInterceptor" class="org.springmodules.xt.ajax.AjaxInterceptor">
	<property name="handlerMappings">
		<props>
		<prop key="/bpFlow.htm">ajaxBusinessProfileAjaxActions</prop>
		</props>
	</property>
	</bean>

	<bean id="ajaxUrlMappings" class="org.springframework.web.servlet.handler.SimpleUrlHandlerMapping">
		<property name="interceptors">
			<list>
				<ref bean="ajaxInterceptor"/>							
			</list>
		</property>
		<property name="mappings">
			<props>
				<prop key="/ajaxFlows.htm">ajaxFlows</prop>
			</props>
		</property>
	</bean>

[indone]

I figured out the issue. It's due to commons-collections.
It is failing with the earlier versions. it is working if i use commons-collections-3.2

[skadirov]

Hi,
I am trying loadOffice example, the interceptor config is

<bean id="ajaxLoadOfficesHandler" class="com.hbo.progops.mend.uksvod.service.ajax.Lo adOfficesHandler">
<property name="store" ref="store"/>
</bean>



<bean id="ajaxInterceptor" class="org.springmodules.xt.ajax.AjaxInterceptor">
<property name="handlerMappings">
<props>

<prop key="/uksvod/scheduleHome.uksvod.page">ajaxLoadOfficesHandler</prop>

</props>
</property>
</bean>



I am getting the exception below. What could be causing it?

Thanks

org.springmodules.xt.ajax.support.UnsupportedEvent Exception: Cannot handling the
given event with id: loadOffices
at org.springmodules.xt.ajax.AjaxInterceptor.preHandl e(AjaxInterceptor.j
ava:146)
at org.springframework.web.servlet.DispatcherServlet. doDispatch(Dispatch
erServlet.java:788)
at org.springframework.web.servlet.DispatcherServlet. doService(Dispatche