I see template screens as a first step towards Cedric's Components. Template
screens provide the foundation necessary for Components: Programmatically
defining screens.
The next step is adding support for defining screens from an XML file, whether
that's struts-config.xml or a separate file. Then we can add inheritance and
locale support.
I want to build this iteratively, with a design that reflects Struts design
patterns (such as screen definitions that are analagous to the Map bean in the
Link tag)*, rather than adopting Cedric's code wholesale.
I'm more than willing to have Cedric or others pitch in some code.
david
* The Struts map-bean-property-to-request-parameter design pattern.
Cedric Dumoulin wrote:
> A kind of "screen configuration" (called instances) is proposed in
> Components project, which can be seen as an extension of Templates.
> Screens are defined in a configuration file. You can also have different
> configuration files for different Locale : appropriate screens will be loaded
> according to user Locale.
> There is also an "inheritance" mechanism allowing a screen to extend
> another screen : you define your main screen, and derived other screens from
> it, only changing what is relevant.
> To no more about Components :
> (main site) http://www.lifl.fr/~dumoulin/components/
> (mirror) http://www.geocities.com/cedricdumoulin//components
>
> I am currently rewriting part of the code to allows easy addition of other
> "configuration file reader". Like this, it will be possible to load instances
> from, for example, a database. This will also allows dynamic change of
> instances. Code rewriting will not affect actual tags syntax.
>
> Cedric
>
> Maya Muchnik wrote:
>
> > Hi,
> > I think the screen configuration through a xml-file is made in Components
> > project (see for example,
> > componentInstances.xml file). It is very convenient. As you maybe know,
> > the project extends ActionServlet class.
> > Maya
> >
> > David Geary wrote:
> >
> > > Yes, that's a good idea, applicable for static screens.
> > >
> > > We should still allow for programmatic definitions, though. Servlets or
> > > servlet filters are good candidates for creating dynamic screen
> > > definitions.
> > >
> > > david
> > >
> > > Wong Kok Wai wrote:
> > >
> > > > Is it possible to define the screen definition in the
> > > > struts-config.xml? I think this will be more flexible.
> > > >
> > > > __________________________________________________
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