Update entity in authenticate method

[twocoasttb]

What is the correct way to update an entity in my authenticate method (called from Identity)? I want to update the user entity with a 'last connected' date. As far as I can tell, I have to handle the transaction manually, like this:

@Name("authenticator")
public class Authenticator {

 @In
 EntityManager entityManager;

 @Out(scope=ScopeType.SESSION, required=false)
 SiteUser currentUser;

 @In(create=true) @Out
 SessionPreferences prefs;

 public boolean authenticate() {
 Query q = entityManager.createQuery("from SiteUser su where upper(username) = upper(:username) and password = :password and active = true");
 q.setParameter("username", Identity.instance().getUsername());
 q.setParameter("password", Identity.instance().getPassword());
 if (q.getResultList().size() == 1) {
 currentUser = (SiteUser)q.getSingleResult();
 prefs.setCurrentOrganization(currentUser.getOrganization());
 Identity.instance().addRole("admin");

 try {
 UserTransaction utx = Transactions.getUserTransaction();
 utx.begin();
 entityManager.joinTransaction();
 currentUser.setLastConnected(new java.util.Date());
 utx.commit();
 } catch (Exception e) {
 log.error("Exception updating user: " + e.getMessage());
 }

 return true;
 }
 return false;
 }
}

Is there a better way to do it?

[pmuir]

@Transactional
public boolean authenticate() {
 ...
 entityManager.joinTransaction();
 // Do your work
}

[twocoasttb]

Beautiful. Thanks, Peter. Time for another read through the documentation...