I want to show a modalPanel when a4j:status is active and found the solution in https://community.jboss.org/message/24382
However, why does this solution not works? I have thought, that the facet can have any components inside?
<a4j:status layout="block">
<f:facet name="start">
<rich:modalPanel>
<h:outputText value="Ajax Status is active" />
</rich:modalPanel>
</f:facet>
</a4j:status>
this will not works as you defined modal panel but there is no js code for it's showing. follow the solution from thread (last post) in order to show/hide it.