Usage of PorpertyEditors

[MisterX]

Hi,

we try to bind an object of type java.util.Date to a form. We have used the Birthdate example code to get it work. A date which is entered in the allowed format gets converted correctly when the form is submitted. Unfortunately, the other way around does not work. The date is printed out in the standard date format. Is the PropertyEditor only responsible for mapping strings in other objects? Should we use fmt:formatDate in the JSP to print out the date in the right format?

A second question is how we allow different formats for dates entered in the same form. Right now, we can only set one PropertyEditor which is responsible for the date datatype. Is there a way to register multiple PropertyEditors for one datatype?

Thanks in advance!

[Marten Deinum]

I recently wrote a blogpost about it, because it seems to be some kind of a FAQ.

Check it out here

[MisterX]

Thanks for the quick answer. We did it just the way you explained it. Unfortunately, the date is not printed out like we specified it in the SimpleDateFormat. Any hints?

[Marten Deinum]

No hints without seeing any code and configuration. It probably is some coding/configuration issue.

[klr8]

You could be having an alwaysRedirectOnPause side-effect. Check the following tip for some insights:
http://www.ervacon.com/products/swf/tips/tip4.html

Regarding different date formats for the same form. Just register your property editor for a particular field instead of for the "java.util.Date" type. The DataBinder has API for this.

Erwin

[MisterX]

Unfortunately, we found out that it is a alwaysRedirectOnPause problem. Without the usage of the PRG pattern everything works fine. But this would mean that PropertyEditors for form binding can only be used if the PRG pattern is avoided. Am I right? This would also mean that a central feature of SWF can not be used. So, the question is: What would be the right way to do this? Or is this a bug in SWF?

Thanks for clarifying this

[klr8]

But this would mean that PropertyEditors for form binding can only be used if the PRG pattern is avoided. Am I right?

No. Read that tip again. You should be calling setupForm during the render actions of your view state to re-register any property editors.

Erwin

[MisterX]

Of course, you're right. I apologize. Now we are using setupForm() in RenderActions where we also want to use PropertyEditors. Would it be a general advice to call setupForm() as a RenderAction?

[klr8]

Absolutely.

Erwin