How to make a checkbox checked using struts tag

[mash john]

I want to check a checkbox using a struts tag. I am using html:checkbox,but not finding any atttribute to check or uncheck it.In html tags we have a attribute called checked,if we say checked="true", it will be checked.But how we do that in struts?

Regards
Mash John

[Nathaniel Stoddard]

You should set the value in your ActionForm. The tag will make sure the checkbox is checked for you, based on the value is gets for that property from your ActionForm.

[Eric Jo]

Nathan,

That's good advice. I have (I think) a harder problem. Maybe you can help. I am using a DynaValidatorForm. The pertinent sections of my struts-config.xml:

        
<form-bean name="contactUsForm" type="org.apache.struts.validator.DynaValidatorForm">
<form-property name="firstName" type="java.lang.String" size="55"/>
<form-property name="lastName" type="java.lang.String" size="55"/>
<form-property name="address" type="java.lang.String" size="255"/>
<form-property name="address2" type="java.lang.String" size="255"/>
<form-property name="city" type="java.lang.String" size="55"/>
<form-property name="state" type="java.lang.String" size="2"/>
<form-property name="zip" type="java.lang.String" size="10"/>
<form-property name="email" type="java.lang.String" size="255"/>
<form-property name="subject" type="java.lang.String" size="64"/>
<form-property name="body" type="java.lang.String" size="4096"/>
<form-property name="newspaper" type="java.lang.String" size="255"/>
</form-bean>

------

<action path="/contactUs"
type="com.parade.ui.ContactUsAction"
name="contactUsForm" scope="request" validate="true"
input="/opencms/system/modules/com.parade/elements/contactUs.jsp">
<forward name="success"
path="/do/readerContactUs?success=true" />
</action>

My problem is I need to pre-populate fields the first time my form is called. I thought I might be able to access a form bean object named "contactUsForm" so I stuck some scriptlet at the top of my JSP:

<%
System.out.println("contactUsForm: " + contactUsForm.toString());
%>

Well, no luck. Here's the complaint I get from Tomcat:

C:\Documents and Settings\ejohnso2\My Documents\Tomcat 5.0\work\Catalina\localhost\opencms\org\apache\jsp\WEB_002dINF\jsp\online\system\modules\com_parade\elements\contactUs_jsp.java:162: cannot find symbol
symbol  : variable contactUsForm
location: class org.apache.jsp.WEB_002dINF.jsp.online.system.modules.com_parade.elements.contactUs_jsp
System.out.println("contactUsForm: " + contactUsForm.toString());
                                               ^
Note: C:\Documents and Settings\ejohnso2\My Documents\Tomcat 5.0\work\Catalina\localhost\opencms\org\apache\jsp\WEB_002dINF\jsp\online\system\modules\com_parade\elements\contactUs_jsp.java uses unchecked or unsafe operations.
Note: Recompile with -Xlint:unchecked for details.
1 error

My question is, how do I get a handle to my form? The page that is calling me is using a pass thru so it would be nice not to clutter it with my needs. I'd really like to get a handle to my form at the top of my JSP.

Assuming that can't be done, any other suggestions are welcome.

Thanks in advance,
Eric