Spring 3 mvc nested form:select - forms

Question

In my scenario, i'm developing nested select on a JSP, binded to a bean:
Bean
public class WizardPanelp1Bean {
private Integer id;
private Stringofpanels stringofpanels;
private Paneltype paneltype;
private Integer number;
private String paneltypestring;
//and getters/setters... [Omitted]
Now i have the Paneltype object, another simple bean
Paneltype
private Integer id;
private double peakpower;
private double weight;
private String name;
private double dimension;
private double conversion;
private Set functions = new HashSet(0);
private Set sensors = new HashSet(0);
private Set panels = new HashSet(0);
//[Getters/setters omitted as usual]
So, i prepare the view, with a bean named wb
a simple arraylist of panels
public class PanelsBean {
private ArrayList<WizardPanelp1Bean> panels =new ArrayList<WizardPanelp1Bean>();
and finally i go to the jsp (please note this is in a )
<tbody>
<c:forEach items="${wb.panels}" varStatus="loop" var="item">
<tr>
<td>${item.id}</td>
<td>
<form:select path="panels[${loop.index}].paneltype" >
<c:forEach var="type" items="${types}">
<c:choose>
<c:when test="${item.paneltype.id==type.id}">
<form:option selected="selected" value="${type.id}" label="${type.name}" />
</c:when>
<c:otherwise>
<form:option value="${type.id}" label="${type.name}" />
</c:otherwise>
</c:choose>
</c:forEach>
</form:select>
</td>
<td><form:input style="width:180px" path="panels[${loop.index}].number" /></td>
<td>
<div>
<form:input style="visibility: hidden ; width:0px" path="panels[${loop.index}].id" disabled="disabled" />
<a href="javascript:remove(${item.id},${stringofpanels.id})" class="wb.panels.remove" >Rimuovi</a>
</div>
</td>
</tr>
</c:forEach>
</tbody>
every time i get a null reference to paneltype. I obviously used a #InitBinder on the controller:
Initbinder
#InitBinder
protected void initBinder(HttpServletRequest request, ServletRequestDataBinder binder) throws Exception {
binder.registerCustomEditor(Paneltype.class, "paneltype", new PropertyEditorSupport() {
#Override
public void setAsText(String text) {
int i=0;
PaneltypeDAO pDAO=new PaneltypeDAO();
setValue(pDAO.findById(Integer.parseInt(text)));
}
});
}
but the code never reach this. It's like the jsp is sure that the value is null.
Suggestions? Thanks

Answer 1

I think your problem persists when you try to submit this form and not getting the binded values in the model.
Try to initialize your list using LazyList. Please replace your panels declaration in PanelsBean class as below.
private List<WizardPanelp1Bean> panels = LazyList.decorate(new ArrayList<WizardPanelp1Bean>(),FactoryUtils.instantiateFactory(WizardPanelp1Bean.class));
Hope this helps you. Cheers.