Use of DataModle in JSF

[Varadhan Sesharaman]

Hi guys

Can anyone explain what the usage of DataModle in JSF.
And is there any way not to use the DataModle while using List in JSF

Thanks

[Kumaravadivel Subramani]

I don't see any need for DataModel when you use List in JSF. Read about DataModel here. webpage

[Tim Holloway]

The DataModel classes are used to serve as the Model sub-component of a dataTable MVC triad. It contains metadata used to ensure that the application knows where in the dataTable action is occurring. Specifically, its getRowData and getRowIndex methods allow an action method to know what row a request is being made for.

One of the most common mistakes that JSF beginners make is putting the DataModel object in Request scope. When you do that, the original DataModel is destroyed when the page has completed rendering. Clicking on a commandLink or commandButton for a row in the rendered table will then fail, because a new, uninitialized DataModel will be created when the action fires.

I've seen indications that in JSF2 it's possible to forgo the dataModel and reference a collection directly, but I don't think I ever saw it explicitly documented. In any event, the dataModel still exists, it's just created automatically. But since there's no application definition, you can't get hold of it when you need it, so I recommend creating the dataModel explicitly.

I often subclass DataModel for various reasons. One of the most common things I do with such subclasses is add properties to hold column total values.

[Varadhan Sesharaman]

Thanks Kumaravadivel and Tim.

I got a clear idea now.

But we must use DataModel for list in JSF 1.2.
And there is also posibility not to use the DataModel in JSF 2.0.

Is it correct?

[Tim Holloway]

Varadhan Sesharaman wrote:Thanks Kumaravadivel and Tim.

I got a clear idea now.

But we must use DataModel for list in JSF 1.2.
And there is also posibility not to use the DataModel in JSF 2.0.

Is it correct?

Like I said, I've seen indications that sometimes you can reference collections directly in JSF2, but I don't think that the JSF2 spec specifically allows it. In any event, a DataModel is still being built, but you wouldn't be able to access it, and you need that DataModel if you want to figure out which row of a table an action was fired from. So you are better off building the DataModel yourself.