How to pass a parameter to JSF dataTable's value attribute

Question

In a JSF 2.1 application, I need to build a JSF dataTable (using PrimeFaces) that shows only the db records belonging to the logged in user.

So, I need to pass the username to the bean associated to the dataTable's value attribute:

value="#{tableBuilder.records}"

Here is the table bean:

@ManagedBean
@ViewScoped
public class TableBuilder {
    private List<MyRecord> records;
    private String username;
    // getters and setters
}

It's useful to know that the application consists of a single web page, with container-managed authentication implemented through LoginBean, a SessionScoped ManagedBean. This implies the additional effort of notifying to TableBuilder when the user logs in.

The only way I am thinking of is to inject the LoginBean into the TableBuilder through @ManagedProperty annotation, and checking on every request of getRecords if the username property of LoginBean has changed.

Maybe there are better ways?

So, it's in your webapp possible that the logged-in user get changed in between the initial request of a view and a successful postback to the very same view? — BalusC
Correct. It's possible that a first user logs in, then logs out, then another user logs in using the same web page. — perissf

BalusC BalusC · Accepted Answer · 2012-10-14T17:17:41

If your environment supports EL 2.2 (your question history confirms Java EE 6), then "just do it":

<h:dataTable value="#{bean.getModel(user)}">

with

public List<Item> getModel(User user) {
    // ...
}

Whether it's the right way or there are better ways, I'll leave in the middle. Keep in mind that a getter is invoked as many times as EL evaluates the value expression.

How to pass a parameter to JSF dataTable's value attribute

1 Answers