Problem with <rich:columns> driving me insane

[wormdundee]

So I have a datatable with a nested datatable inside it. Inside the nested datatable is a <rich:columns> tag like so:

<rich:dataTable id="steps" value="#{travelerHandler.steps}" var="step" border="1">
 <f:facet name="header">
 <h:outputText value="#{travelerHandler.trav.name}" />
 </f:facet>
 <rich:subTable>
 <rich:columns value="#{step.tests}" var="test">
 <f:facet name="header">
 <h:outputText value="#{test.test.name}" />
 </f:facet>
 <h:outputText value="#{test.results.passStatus}" />
 <h:outputText value="#{test.results.comment}" />
 </rich:columns>
 </rich:subTable>
 </rich:dataTable>

travelerHandler.steps is an ArrayList of StepTests. A StepTest has a Step within it, as well as an ArrayList of TestWithResults. As you can see I am trying to use this ArrayList of TestWithResults to dynamically set the columns, as each Step has a different amount of columns within it.

For some reason, trying to run this gives me the error jspTagException: FOREACH_BAD_ITEMS on the line <rich:columns value="#{step.tests}" var="test">, I don't see why this is, as its just an ArrayList, nothing special. I also attempted to wrap it in a DataModel but that resulted in the same error.

Any help would be much appreciated.

[wormdundee]

I couldn't see that there is any edit button so sorry for the double post.

I should mention that this is the first time I've used columns so I'm probably doing something terribly wrong.

[andrei_exadel]

Tell me please what is #{step.tests} in your example?
It should be iterable variable (ArrayList, Collection, Sequence & etc).
In another case FOREACH_BAD_ITEMS error occurs.

[wormdundee]

As I said in my original post, it is an ArrayList. I also tried wrapping it in a ListDataModel but that gave the same error.

[wormdundee]

I thought it might be because of the fact that I was using an ArrayList of a custom class, so I tested it out using an ArrayList of strings and I got the same error.

I really have no idea whats going on.

[andrei_exadel]

Please specify your RF version?

Can you please to post classes, facesConfig that you use in your example?
You can create issue in JIRA and attach them there.

Thanks.

[leopinho]

I have the exactly same problem. Any idea? I'm using RichFaces 3.2.1, JSF 1.2_08 (RI), JSTL 1.2, Tomcat 6...

[andrei_exadel]

Guys, please be doubled sure that you have arrayList in 'value' attribute of columns when page was rendered.

FOREACH_BAD_ITEMS error occurs ONLY if object is NOT instance of java.util.list, java.util.collection, array, map, enumeration, string & etc.

[hotngui]

I am hitting the exact same problem using Richfaces v3.3.1 as well. There was never an answer posted to this thread, but am hoping someone did eventually figure it out.

The problem appears to be specific to rich:columns as when I use the exact same data and just outputting it using a rich:dataList there is no problem.

Thanks,

joey

[nbelaevski]

Joey,

This exception happens if columns data is null, please check if that's so in your case.

[hotngui]

Hey Nick,

My data is definitely not null. I found this "note" in the documentation that appears to point out that I can't do what I want to do (at least according to the note):

Note:

The

<rich:columns> tag is initialized during components tree building process.

This process precedes page rendering at "Render Response" JSF phase. To be

rendered properly the component needs all it variables to be initialized while the

components tree is being building. A javax.servlet.jsp.JspTagException occurs

if <rich:columns> uses variables passed from other components, if these variables

are initialized during rendering. Thus, when

<rich:columns> is asking

for such variables they do not already exist. Use <c:forEach> JSP standard tag as

workaround. Compare two examples below.

But the workaround suggested doesn't work either for many reasons - starting with I've never gotten JSTL to play well with JSF.

joey

[nbelaevski]

I mean that expression has null value when it's evaluated by rich:columns tags, so the exception is thrown. The note in documentation describes such case.

But the workaround suggested doesn't work either for many reasons - starting with I've never gotten JSTL to play well with JSF.

If you are using JSP, check that you are using correct implementation of JSTL.

If Facelets - it should just work :).

Message was edited by: Nick Belaevski

[liuliu]

hi,

I think  "#{step.tests}" in rich:columns cant work, because step is not available when creating rich:columns.

you should use something in your backing bean travelerHandler.

liu