I'd appreciate another pair of eyes on the following:
I have a US ZIP Code input text field that I'd like to bind to an Area
bean. The idea is that the component would prompt/display for a 5-digit zip
code but getModelObject() would return an Area:
class ZipInput extends RequiredTextField<Area>;
where Area is:
class Area{
int zipcode;
UsState state; //enum
String city;
}
there is also a AreaService service:
//returns true only if zipCode is a valid US zip code
boolean isValidZipCode(int zipcode);
//return Area bean for given zipCode; throws exception if 'zipCode' isn't a
valid US Zip Code
Area getArea(int zipCode);
The component needs to:
- validate that input is present (RequiredValidator?)
- convert input from String integer
- at some pt call AreaService.isValidZipCode (again, a validation task)
- call AreaService.getArea (a conversion task)
My main problem is that it seems like AreaService.getArea() should be
wrapped into a IConverter, but it, in turn, requires a validation step.
However, conversion runs before validation (ie. first I need to convert
string->int). So, I guess, I am unsure which of the above should be wrapped
into a Converter and which into a Validator (trying to maintain some
separation of responsibilities). Should I create a converter that chains
String<>Int and Int<>Area conversions? Which would execute
AreaService.getArea(zipCode)?
thanks
-nikita
