Best Framework for Tabbed Dialogs

[Dennis John]

I would like to write an web application which simulates tabbed dialogs. Meaning the user can enter properties in one of say 4 different pages and the changes are saved but not processed till the OK or Apply buttons are pressed. However, I do not want a wizard like struts uses with the page variable. User should be able to jump from page to page in any order.
Also, the variables on the forms are completely dynamic and database driven, in struts terminology a map-based ActionForm.
I am familiar with struts but not the other frameworks. Which framework best lends itself to this architecture.
thanks,
Dennis

[Neal Ford]

Which framework best lends itself to this architecture.

Tapestry has an amazingly robust tabbed dialog component. While not automatically supporting your design, it would be easy to get it to handle it. Tapestry hides much of the request/response nature of the web from the developer, making it more like writing a desktop application. One of the samples that ships with Tapesty (and referred to in my book) uses a complex tabbed dialog-style interface.

[David Yutzy]

Are there any on-line demo sites that use Tapestry that you could reference? How does this product differentiate itself from Struts? I've been to the site, but it sounds very similiar...

[David Yutzy]

The product I use for tabbed interfaces is at:
Struts Menu

[Neal Ford]

Originally posted by David Yutzy:
Are there any on-line demo sites that use Tapestry that you could reference? How does this product differentiate itself from Struts? I've been to the site, but it sounds very similiar...

They are not at all similar. Besides the basic premise of Model 2, they are vastly different. Tapestry encapsulates the entire web request/response cycle into the framework. Writing Tapestry applications is more like writing traditional desktop applications. There is no request, response, session, etc. that you are accustomed to in web development. Instead, there are components, event handlers, etc. Tapestry also doesn't use JSP, but instead uses template-based component substitution. For example, building a table in Tapestry has you build a Table Model, similar to Swing.
If you want to get a good idea of what Tapestry is about, you can read the Tapestry chapter in my book! Or, you can look at the tutorial at the tapestry web site

[Matt Raible]

Originally posted by David Yutzy:
Are there any on-line demo sites that use Tapestry that you could reference? How does this product differentiate itself from Struts? I've been to the site, but it sounds very similiar...

I have a demo up for the Tapestry example app:
http://demo.raibledesigns.com/workbench
And my impressions of Tapestry at first glance:
http://raibledesigns.com/page/rd?anchor=tapestry_looks_very_nice