Add a row to h:dataTable via AJAX with request-scoped bean without losing the row data

Question

I think the title tells it all: I want to add a row to dataTable over AJAX. The datatable has input fields where user can put text. As simple as that, a pretty common case.

With session-scoped bean this no issue, as the same bean is updated over and over again. However, I want to do this in request scope. For each request, I guess I want to create a new bean and to populate it with the values from my form. Then I want my commandButton 's action to add a new row, finally render the dataTable over AJAX as usual.

The issue is that I don't know how to make JSF fill the newly-created request-bean with the current data from the dataTable component?

There was a similar question asked and answered . However, that solution seems to reload the contents of the dataTable each time it is refreshed and manually inserts empty elements for the newly-inserted rows like this:

// Preserve list with newly added items.
ror (int i = 0; i < (Integer) count.getValue(); i++) {
    list.add(new Item());
}

To me, it seems that this approach also wipes the possible changes that the user did to rows (new and old)... if he doesn't first save them.

Any pointers?

Answer 1

You should really consider using the new JSF 2.0 view scope . This lies between the request and session scope in. This scope lives as long as you're interacting (submitting and navigating to) the same view. This is an exact suit for the particular functional requirement.

See also

• CRUD in JSF 2.0
• Benefits and pitfalls of @ViewScoped