jsfelfaceletsconditional-operatormethodexpression

EL conditional Method Expression


I would like to declare a conditional method expression in EL like below:

<p:dataTable id="#{cc.attrs.datatableId}" var="overview" 
    rowSelectListener="#{cc.attrs.detailsMode == 'single' ? cc.attrs.bean.onRowSelect : cc.attrs.bean.onRowUrlSelect}">

However, it throws an EL exception:

javax.el.ELException: Not a Valid Method Expression: #{ cc.attrs.detailsMode == 'single' ? cc.attrs.bean.onRowSelect : cc.attrs.bean.onRowUrlSelect}

How I can declare a conditional EL method expression?


Solution

  • Unfortunately, method expressions does not accept value expressions. Your best bet is to have a single method entry point which in turn delegates further to the desired action methods based on the detailsMode which you also pass/set to the bean.

    E.g.

    <h:dataTable ... rowSelectListener="#{cc.attrs.bean.onRowSelect}">
    
     public void onRowSelect(SelectEvent event) {  
         if ("single".equals(detailsMode)) {
             onRowSingleSelect(event);
         } else {
             onRowUrlSelect(event);
         }
     }
    

    Given that you're actually using a composite component, you can if necessary hide it away in the backing component to reduce boilerplate in backing bean:

    <cc:interface componentType="yourComponent">
    ...
    <h:dataTable ... rowSelectListener="#{cc.onRowSelect}">
    
    @FacesComponent("yourComponent")
    public class YourComponent extends UINamingContainer {
    
         public void onRowSelect(SelectEvent event) {  
            String methodName = "single".equals(detailsMode) ? "onRowSingleSelect" : "onRowUrlSelect";
            MethodExpression method = (MethodExpression) getAttributes().get(methodName);
            method.invoke(getFacesContext().getELContext(), new Object[] { event });
         }
    
    }