Doubt regarding how to specify servlet mapping URL patterns in web.xml

[Anoop Nair]

Hi All,

Didn't know exactly which forum to post this query in. So here I am.

I am using a spring controller in my web application.
In the web.xml I want to configure all URLs to be handled by the spring dispatcher servlet. I have tried below thing but it doesn't work:

<servlet>
  <servlet-name>myapp</servlet-name>
  <servlet-class>org.springframework.web.servlet.DispatcherServlet</servlet-class>
  <load-on-startup>1</load-on-startup>
</servlet>

<servlet-mapping>
  <servlet-name>myapp</servlet-name>
  <url-pattern>/*</url-pattern>
</servlet-mapping>

However, if i specify a different <servlet-mapping> element for each URL pattern it works. For example,

<servlet-mapping>
  <servlet-name>hcpadmin</servlet-name>
  <url-pattern>/createUser/*</url-pattern>
</servlet-mapping>

<servlet-mapping>
  <servlet-name>hcpadmin</servlet-name>
  <url-pattern>/edit/*</url-pattern>
</servlet-mapping>

<servlet-mapping>
  <servlet-name>hcpadmin</servlet-name>
  <url-pattern>/report/*</url-pattern>
 </servlet-mapping>

I am using SimpleURL Handler Mapping in Spring for handling URLs.

<bean id="simpleUrlMapping" class="org.springframework.web.servlet.handler.SimpleUrlHandlerMapping">
	<property name="mappings">
	  <props>
		<prop key="/report">reportController</prop>
                <prop key="/createUser">createUserController</prop>
                <prop key="/edit">editUserController</prop>
          </props>
	</property>
</bean>

Am not able to figure out why /* doesnt work. As of now, if I have to mention a separate servlet mapping for each url, then things get unwieldy as the no. of urls increase..

[Anoop Nair]

I solved this by specifying the below servlet-mapping in web.xml

<servlet-mapping>  
  <servlet-name>myapp</servlet-name>  
  <url-pattern>/</url-pattern>  
</servlet-mapping> 

I replaced the /* with just / .

But now I have another problem.

Previously, for all my static content (like .gif, .jpg, .css etc..) I was specifying

<servlet-mapping>  
  <servlet-name>default</servlet-name>  
  <url-pattern>*.*</url-pattern>  
</servlet-mapping> 

But now I have to specify a different mapping for each one of them.

Can someone please tell as to why this is happening ?? Also is this the best way to do or is there a better way ???