bean:define , null checks and logic:present

[madhup narain]

I have a <bean:define> in my jsp that is tied to a session variable.
I know that <bean:define> can not handle nulls and need to be handled explictly. To do so i have used <logic:notPresent> to make sure that if bean is not available it is set to null

Here is the code that i am using... for defining the bean .

   
<logic:present name="vo_in_session" property="ppOptnSelectedVO">
         <bean:define id="optionsVO" name="vo_in_session" property="ppOptnSelectedVO"  />	
</logic:present>
<logic:notPresent name="vo_in_session" property="ppOptnSelectedVO">
         <bean:define id="optionsVO" value="null" />	
</logic:notPresent>

When i try to perform some computation e.g

<% 
double totalRecurringCharges = 5.00;
totalRecurringCharges = totalRecurringCharges+ Double.parseDouble(((com.valueobject.PPOptionsSelectedVO)optionsVO).getMonthlyPrice());
%>

i get an error saying "optionsVO" can not be resolved.
However when i define the bean with out the <logic:present> tags i don't get this error.

Why do i get this error? Is there a better way to handle this ?

Thanks in advance

[David Newton]

Yes--do the Java work in the Action/service/etc., not in the JSP.

[madhup narain]

For some reason i don't want to do the small math in the Action class ...well ?

[veeresh soni]

Are you doing computation in <logic:present> or outside of it if it is out side then place it in that block and check if it is working or not or define object outside the logic:present tag <% Object obj = null; %>