Nothing available in JSP from Servlet

[Shiwani Aggarwal]

I have created a servlet and a jsp. I have a method getname() that returns a vector of names in the servlet and this is sued as follows:
lvNames = getnames();
I used the following line to set this value so I can get this diplayed in JSP:
request.setAttribute("Names",lvNames);
In the JSP: I declare lvNames and then use the following:It gives NullPointerException. What should I do? Even if I try checking for null and then use the following, nothing is retuned in the vector, although servlets loga all valuses correctly.
lvNames = (Vector)request.getAttribute("Names");

Pls advise
Thanks

[Ron Newman]

How exactly is the servlet invoking the JSP?

[Shiwani Aggarwal]

This is how I invoke the jsp, is this the wrong way?
response.sendRedirect("/AddTrx1.jsp");

[Bear Bibeault]

Well, there's your answer.
In order for the attribute to be available to the JSP, you must forward from the servlet to the JSP. A redirect, such as you are doing, causes the browser to initiate a new request and so the request upon which you set the attribute is not the one that invokes the JSP.
hth,
bear

[Shiwani Aggarwal]

How do I do that? I am novice in this area.......this is my fisrt servlet/JSP....
Thanks in advance

[Ron Newman]

Take a look at ServletRequest.getRequestDispatcher() and RequestDispatcher.forward() .

[Ron Newman]

Also, don't use Vector. Use ArrayList.

[Mark Spritzler]

"Preeti"-
Please adjust your displayed name to meet the
JavaRanch Naming Policy.
You can change it
here.
Thanks!
Mark

[Shiwani Aggarwal]

using dispatcher solved the problem, but now I have another one::
A flag if set to one value dispatches JSP - 1
setting to naother values dispatches -JSP 2
but now since it is already set, it always dispatched jsp2, how to reset that?
Thanks

[Ron Newman]

I don't understand your question. Show us some code?

[Shiwani Aggarwal]

The code in the servlet is:
if (request.getParameter("flag") != null)
lsFlag = request.getParameter("flag");
if (lsFlag.equals("Family"))
{
request.setAttribute("flag",lsFlag);
lPageDispatcher.showPage("/HomePage.jsp");
}
//Photo gallery and go from there
if (lsFlag.equals("Gallery"))
{
request.setAttribute("flag",lsFlag);
lPageDispatcher.showPage("/Gallery.jsp");
}

In the HomePage jsp: the flag is either set to Family or Gallery depending on which link is clicked. Now once I vidited Gallery jsp, everytime I run teh servlet, it goes to Gallery and does not bring up Home page from where I need to navigate.........I hope this clears. let me know if I confused you.

[David O'Meara]

"Becky",
Your display name is not valid. You can (and should) read the naming policy here
Your display name must be two words: your first name, a space, then your last name. You have been warned before.
20 posts is not good. I recommend changing your display as soon as possible to comply, otherwise it is likely your account will be deleted without warning.
thanks,
Dave

[Mark Spritzler]

Well Becky, all you need to do now is add your last name to meet the Javaranch naming policy. You can use the links that I posted earlier to change it.
Thanks for your help.
Mark

[Shiwani Aggarwal]

Can any of you pls help me out?

[Allan Wang]

Hi,
The question for you is how servlet share data with JSP. Is it right?
You can do this via these steps:
In servlet:
1. save your data into request, (session, context, depending on your requirements).
2. request.getRequestDispatcher("/yourJsp.jsp").forward(request, response);
In JSP:
1. retrieve the data: Vector lvName = (Vector)request.getAttribute("Names");
"An important difference between RequestDispatcher.forward()
and HttpServletResponse.sendRedirect()is that RequestDispatcher.forward() is completely handled
on the server side while HttpServletResponse.sendRedirect()
sends a redirect message to the browser. In that sense, HttpServletRequest.
forward() is transparent to the browser while HttpServlet-
Response.sendRedirect() is not." quoted from SCWCD study kit.
What you want to do should happen all in the server side, so you shouldn't use response.sendRedirect().
Hope it helps,
allan wang
[ September 08, 2003: Message edited by: Allan Wang ]