Question on cset Target

[Veena Pointi]

For <c:set target="${PetMap}" property="dogName" value="Clover"/> syntax on page 456 in HFSJ ,it says that

The target must evaluate to the OBJECT! You don't type in the string "id" name of the bean or Map attribute! With the "target" attribute ,you do not type in the String literal that represents the name under which the attribute was bound to the page,scope,etc. No,the "target" attribute needs a value that resolves to the REAL THING.

But I tried following example ,for "target" attribute I had to give name to which attribute was bound

    
<%
Map petMaps= new HashMap();
request.setAttribute("PetMap",petMaps);

%>
<c:set target="${PetMap}" property="dogName" value="Clover"/> 

Name: ${PetMap.dogName}

Then,why in HFSJ it is saying that With the "target" attribute ,you do not type in the String literal that represents the name under which the attribute was bound to the page,scope,etc ?

Thanks
Veena

[Bob Wheeler]

Veena Pointi wrote:
Then,why in HFSJ it is saying that With the "target" attribute ,you do not type in the String literal that represents the name under which the attribute was bound to the page,scope,etc ?

Hi Veena,

You didn't use a String literal. Instead you used an EL expression (${PetMap}), which evaluates to the "real thing", the object (in your example the Map petMaps).
The following doesn't work (notice: PetMap is now a String literal):

  
<%-- doesn't work --%>
<c:set target="PetMap" property="dogName" value="Clover"/>   
  

For the c:set var property a String literal works:

<c:set var="stringLiteral" ....
    

I hope I could help.
cheers
Bob>