JSP parameters. ( beginners question, probably easy)

[Rob Earls]

Having a lot of "fun" at the moment I'm sure this is really obvious but it has me stumped....
I have three JSP files
login.jsp -> validate.jsp -> menu.jsp
My login.jsp passes it's parameters to validate.
If the validation fails, it passes a parameter back to login.jsp to say "invalid password".
This is my "catch 22" situation. If I try to access a parameter before it has been set, then I get an "Internal Servlet Error"
Thus, the first time I access login.jsp, I get this error.
What am I doing wrong?

[BJ Grau]

Check to see if your parameter exists before you try to do anything with it. For example:

String s = request.getParameter("someParameter");
if (s == null) 
  //do nothing with this parameter because it is null
else
  //do something with this parameter because it exists

I'm not sure if this is what you want, but if you post your code here I can help you out some more.

[Rob Earls]

Actually that is exactly what I needed.
I assumed that the getParameter call was causing the error, when really it was because I was using the variable ( which was null ) later in the code.
Thanks!!!