The Jakarta Struts Framework is a popular open source platform for building web applications from top to bottom with Java. While this popularity has led to a wealth of online and in-print documentation, developers still find themselves faced with a number of common tasks that are not clearly and succinctly explained. In these situations, programmers can now turn to the Jakarta Struts Cookbook an amazing collection of code solutions to common--and uncommon--problems encountered when working with the Struts Framework. Among many other recipes, this book explains how to:
display data in complex HTML tables
use JSP, the JSTL, and JavaScript in your user interface
define static and dynamic action forms
validate data and respond to errors
use Logging, Validation, and Exception Handling
integrate Struts with persistence frameworks like Hibernate and iBATIS
This look-up reference is just what today's time-pressed developers need. With solutions to real-world problems just a few page flips away, information is instantly available. And while the book's solutions focus on getting to the point, each recipe's discussion section imparts valuable concept and insight from a Struts veteran.
The Jakarta Struts Cookbook is perfect for independent developers, large development teams, and everyone in between who wishes to use the Struts Framework to its fullest potential. Plus, it s completely up-to-date with the latest versions of Framework, so readers can be sure the information is viable.
Table of Contents
Preface
1. Getting Started: Enabling Struts Development
1.1 Downloading Struts
1.2 Deploying the Struts Example Application
1.3 Migrating from Struts 1.0 to Struts 1.1
1.4 Upgrading from Struts 1.1 to Struts 1.2
1.5 Converting JSP Applications to Struts
1.6 Managing Struts Configuration Files
1.7 Using Ant to Build and Deploy
1.8 Generating Struts Configuration Files Using XDoclet
2. Configuring Struts Applications
2.1 Using Plug-ins for Application Initialization
2.2 Eliminating Tag Library Declarations
2.3 Using Constants on JSPs
2.4 Using Multiple Struts Configuration Files
2.5 Factoring Your Application into Modules
2.6 Using Multiple Resource Bundles
2.7 Accessing Message Resources from a Database
2.8 Selectively Disabling Actions
3. User Interface
3.1 Using JSTL
3.2 Using the Struts-EL Tags
3.3 Displaying Indexed Properties
3.4 Using Indexed Properties on Forms
3.5 Using Indexed Properties in a JSTL Loop
3.6 Submitting a Form from an Image
3.7 Generating JavaScript on the Fly
3.8 Dynamically Changing Select Options Using JavaScript
3.9 Generating Dynamic Select List Options
3.10 Filtering Text Input
3.11 Generating a Set of Related Radio Buttons
3.12 Handling Unchecked Checkboxes
3.13 Handling Date Input Fields
3.14 Setting Tab Order
3.15 Generating URLs
3.16 Adding Request Parameters to a Link
3.17 Using Frames
3.18 Defeating Browser Caching
4. Tables, Sorting, and Grouping
4.1 Creating a Horizontal Bar Chart
4.2 Creating a Vertical Bar Chart
4.3
Alternating Table Row Colors
4.4 Sorting HTML Tables
4.5 Paging Tables
4.6 Using the Display Tag Library
5. Processing Forms
5.1 Creating Dynamic Action Forms
5.2 Setting DynaActionForm Initial Values
5.3 Using a List-Backed Form Property
5.4 Using a Map-Backed Form Property
5.5 Lazy Dynamic Action Forms
5.6 Populating Value Objects from ActionForms
5.7 Automatically Creating ActionForms
6. Leveraging Actions
6.1 Creating a Base Action
6.2 Relaying Actions
6.3 Returning the HTTP Response
6.4 Writing Thread-Safe Actions
6.5 Forwarding Requests
6.6 Including the Response from a Servlet or JSP
6.7 Changing the Current Module
6.8 Managing Related Operations from a Central Action
6.9 Submitting a Form from Localized Form Controls
6.10 Dispatching to Related Operations with Action Mappings
7. Execution Control
7.1 Performing Tasks at Application Startup
7.2 Tracking Client Sessions
7.3 Monitoring User Logins
7.4 Forwarding Users to Alternate Destinations
7.5 Forwarding Users to a Module
7.6 Creating a Wizard-Style Page Flow
7.7 Determining the Action Based on User Input
7.8 Using Wildcards in Action Paths
7.9 Preventing Double Form Submissions
7.10 Allowing Users to Upload Files
7.11 Displaying a File from the Server
8. Input Validation
8.1 Reusing Validator Attribute Values
8.2 Validating Using Regular Expressions
8.3 Validating Dependent Fields in Struts 1.1
8.4 Validating Dependent Fields in Struts 1.2
8.5 Validating an Indexed Property
8.6 Validating Dates
8.7 Validating Field Equality with a Custom Validator
8.8 Validating Field Equality in Struts 1.2
8.9 Validating Two or More Choices
8.10 Adding a Custom Validation to a Validator Form
8.11 Validating a Wizard Form
8.12 Localizing Validation Rules
9. Exception and Error Handling
9.1 Simplifying Exception Processing in an Action
9.2 Custom Processing for Declared Exceptions
9.3 Using Exception Error Codes
9.4 Using a Global Error Page
9.5 Reporting Errors and Messages from an Action
9.6 Formatting Error Messages
10. Connecting to the Data
10.1 Accessing JDBC Data Sources from an Action
10.2 Displaying Relational Data
10.3 Mapping SQL Data to Java Objects
10.4 Integrating Struts with Hibernate
10.5 Decoupling Your Application from External Services
10.6 Integrating Spring with Struts
10.7 Loading XML Data into Your Application
10.8 Refreshing Application Data
11. Security
11.1 Securing Actions Using a Base Action
11.2 Checking for User Login on Any Struts Request
11.3 Securing a JSP Page
11.4 Restricting Actions by Role
11.5 Implementing 'Remember Me' Logins
11.6 Ensuring Security Across Your Entire Application
11.7 Allowing a User to Log in Automatically
11.8 Limiting Access for Specific URLs by Role
11.9 Letting the Container Manage Security
11.10 Mixing Application-Managed and Container-Managed Security
11.11 Configuring Actions to Require SSL
11.12 Limiting the Size of Uploaded Files
12. Internationalization
12.1 Detecting Browser Language Settings
12.2 Sharing Message Resources with JSTL
12.3 Using an Application-Wide Locale
12.4 Changing Locale on the Fly
12.5 Creating Localized Messages from an Action
12.6 Displaying Locale-Specific Text
12.7 Displaying Locale-Specific Images
12.8 Supporting Character Sets
12.9 Localizing Look and Feel
13. Testing and Debugging
13.1 Deploying an Application Automatically
13.2 Configuring Struts Logging
13.3 Adding Logging to Your Own Classes
13.4 Enabling Remote Debugging
13.5 Troubleshooting JSP Pages
13.6 Testing Your Actions with Mock Objects
13.7 Testing Your Actions in the Container
13.8 Testing Application Functionality
14. Tiles and Other Presentation Approaches
14.1 Reusing a Common Page Layout with Tiles
14.2 Extending Tile Definitions
14.3 Displaying Tiles Using a Struts Forward
14.4 Creating Tabbed Panes
14.5 Using Tiles for I18N
14.6 Using Tiles in a Modular Application
14.7 Reusing a Common Page Layout with SiteMesh
14.8 Integrating JavaServer Faces with Struts
14.9 Integrating Struts and Velocity
14.10 Integrating Struts and XSLT
Index
