JSF Datamodel & JPA parent to leaves navigation. How to?

My web application is a CRUD web application based on JSF 2.0 / JPA using Java EE 5 and JDK 1.6. Running on Glassfish 3.1. The IDE is Netbeans 7.0. (I do not use EJB, nor CDI).

1. THE PROBLEM

What I can achieve now is perform CRUD on my entities. Which is fine. For each entity I have:

• List.xhtml (LIsting all Datamodel items for that entity in datatable)
• Create.xhtml (A form to create a new item)
• View.xhtml (a form to view an item)
• Edit.xhtml (a form to edit an item)

Structure

• entities package: entities.
• jpa.controllers package: JPA controllers (Javax persistence..).
• jsf package: a managed bean for each entity (session Scoped).

But the main problem is parent-leaf navigation. I want my webapp to do the same thing as the Demo application Agile ScrumToys that comes along shipped with Netbeans 7.0. or the demo webapp from SpringFuse, otherwise :

E.G: When you display a list of WRITERS in a you have the last <h:column> where you put three <h:commandLink /> for editing, viewing and deleting the selected row. What I intend to do is to add another in the same column that allows me to view a collection of child objects related to that selected row. Hence, I want to show the list of BOOKS written by a given WRITER.

WRITER 1 ---------- * BOOK (one-to-many) relationship.

When the user clicks on the <h:commandButton action="#{someManagedBean.showBooksForWriter}" value="#{i18n.listBooks}" /> it forwards him to the /book/List.xhtml (list of the selected WRITEr row should appear). And so on, from the book datatable, from a given row, I click on <h:commandLink action="#{someManagedBean.showReferencesForBook}" value="List of Book References"/> to get the list of references for the given book. A given hint by @Matt was to use a method in the book managed bean:

public showBooksForWriter(Writer writer) {
// TODO: get the selected writer
// Get the list of books for the selected writer
return "/book/List";  // Outcome
}

And in the view :

<h:datatable value="#{writerController.items}" var="w">
.....
<h:column>
<h:commandButton action="#{bookController.showBooksForWriter(w}" value="Show Books For Writer"/>
</h:column>
....
</h:datatable>

But I could not figure how to (DataModel is driving mad). So if anyone could help! It would be very appreciated!

Below is my code

the WRITER entity:

package entities;

import javax.persistence.*; // other imports

    @Entity
    @Table(name = "WRITER")
    @XmlRootElement
    @NamedQueries({
        @NamedQuery(name = "Writer.findAll", query = "SELECT w FROM Writer w"),
        @NamedQuery(name = "Writer.findByWriterid", query = "SELECT w FROM Writer w WHERE w.writerid = :writerid"),
        @NamedQuery(name = "Writer.findByName", query = "SELECT w FROM Writer w WHERE w.name = :name"),
        @NamedQuery(name = "Writer.findBySurname", query = "SELECT w FROM Writer w WHERE w.surname = :surname"),
        @NamedQuery(name = "Writer.findByMiddlename", query = "SELECT w FROM Writer w WHERE w.middlename = :middlename"),
        @NamedQuery(name = "Writer.findByIsRewarded", query = "SELECT w FROM Writer w WHERE w.isRewarded = :isRewarded")})
    public class Writer implements Serializable {
        private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
        @Id
        @GeneratedValue(strategy = GenerationType.IDENTITY)
        @Basic(optional = false)
        @NotNull
        @Column(name = "writerid")
        private Integer writerid;
        @Size(max = 45)
        @Column(name = "name")
        private String name;
        @Size(max = 45)
        @Column(name = "surname")
        private String surname;
        @Size(max = 45)
        @Column(name = "middlename")
        private String middlename;
        @Column(name = "isRewarded")
        private Boolean isRewarded;
        @ManyToMany(mappedBy = "writerList")
        private List<Topic> topicList;
        @OneToMany(cascade = CascadeType.ALL, mappedBy = "writer")
        private List<Evaluation> evaluationList;
        @OneToMany(cascade = CascadeType.ALL, mappedBy = "writer")
        private List<Book> bookList;

        public Writer() {
        }

        public Writer(Integer writerid) {
            this.writerid = writerid;
        }

        public Integer getWriterid() {
            return writerid;
        }

        public void setWriterid(Integer writerid) {
            this.writerid = writerid;
        }

        public String getName() {
            return name;
        }

        public void setName(String name) {
            this.name = name;
        }

        public String getSurname() {
            return surname;
        }

        public void setSurname(String surname) {
            this.surname = surname;
        }

        public String getMiddlename() {
            return middlename;
        }

        public void setMiddlename(String middlename) {
            this.middlename = middlename;
        }

        public Boolean getIsRewarded() {
            return isRewarded;
        }

        public void setIsRewarded(Boolean isRewarded) {
            this.isRewarded = isRewarded;
        }

        @XmlTransient
        public List<Topic> getTopicList() {
            return topicList;
        }

        public void setTopicList(List<Topic> topicList) {
            this.topicList = topicList;
        }

        @XmlTransient
        public List<Evaluation> getEvaluationList() {
            return evaluationList;
        }

        public void setEvaluationList(List<Evaluation> evaluationList) {
            this.evaluationList = evaluationList;
        }

        @XmlTransient
        public List<Book> getBookList() {
            return bookList;
        }

        public void setBookList(List<Book> bookList) {
            this.bookList = bookList;
        }

        @Override
        public int hashCode() {
            int hash = 0;
            hash += (writerid != null ? writerid.hashCode() : 0);
            return hash;
        }

        @Override
        public boolean equals(Object object) {
            // TODO: Warning - this method won't work in the case the id fields are not set
            if (!(object instanceof Writer)) {
                return false;
            }
 开发者_StackOverflow中文版           Writer other = (Writer) object;
            if ((this.writerid == null && other.writerid != null) || (this.writerid != null && !this.writerid.equals(other.writerid))) {
                return false;
            }
            return true;
        }

        @Override
        public String toString() {
            return getMiddlename();
        }

    }

The Writer MANAGED BEAN

package jsf;

import entities.Writer;
import jsf.util.JsfUtil;
import jsf.util.PaginationHelper;
import jpa.controllers.WriterJpaController;
import javax.faces.bean.ManagedBean;

// other imports here

@ManagedBean(name = "writerController")
@SessionScoped
public class WriterController implements Serializable {

    @Resource
    private UserTransaction utx = null;
    @PersistenceUnit(unitName = "writerPU")
    private EntityManagerFactory emf = null;
    private Writer current;
    private DataModel items = null;
    private WriterJpaController jpaController = null;
    private PaginationHelper pagination;
    private int selectedItemIndex;

    public WriterController() {
    }

    public Writer getSelected() {
        if (current == null) {
            current = new Writer();
            selectedItemIndex = -1;
        }
        return current;
    }

    private WriterJpaController getJpaController() {
        if (jpaController == null) {
            jpaController = new WriterJpaController(utx, emf);
        }
        return jpaController;
    }

    public PaginationHelper getPagination() {
        if (pagination == null) {
            pagination = new PaginationHelper(10) {

                @Override
                public int getItemsCount() {
                    return getJpaController().getWriterCount();
                }

                @Override
                public DataModel createPageDataModel() {
                    return new ListDataModel(getJpaController().findWriterEntities(getPageSize(), getPageFirstItem()));
                }
            };
        }
        return pagination;
    }

    public String prepareList() {
        recreateModel();
        return "List";
    }

    public String prepareView() {
        current = (Writer) getItems().getRowData();
        selectedItemIndex = pagination.getPageFirstItem() + getItems().getRowIndex();
        return "View";
    }

    public String prepareCreate() {
        current = new Writer();
        selectedItemIndex = -1;
        return "Create";
    }

    public String create() {
        try {
            getJpaController().create(current);
            JsfUtil.addSuccessMessage(ResourceBundle.getBundle("/Bundle").getString("WriterCreated"));
            return prepareCreate();
        } catch (Exception e) {
            JsfUtil.addErrorMessage(e, ResourceBundle.getBundle("/Bundle").getString("PersistenceErrorOccured"));
            return null;
        }
    }

    public String prepareEdit() {
        current = (Writer) getItems().getRowData();
        selectedItemIndex = pagination.getPageFirstItem() + getItems().getRowIndex();
        return "Edit";
    }

    public String update() {
        try {
            getJpaController().edit(current);
            JsfUtil.addSuccessMessage(ResourceBundle.getBundle("/Bundle").getString("WriterUpdated"));
            return "View";
        } catch (Exception e) {
            JsfUtil.addErrorMessage(e, ResourceBundle.getBundle("/Bundle").getString("PersistenceErrorOccured"));
            return null;
        }
    }

    public String destroy() {
        current = (Writer) getItems().getRowData();
        selectedItemIndex = pagination.getPageFirstItem() + getItems().getRowIndex();
        performDestroy();
        recreateModel();
        return "List";
    }

    public String destroyAndView() {
        performDestroy();
        recreateModel();
        updateCurrentItem();
        if (selectedItemIndex >= 0) {
            return "View";
        } else {
            // all items were removed - go back to list
            recreateModel();
            return "List";
        }
    }

    private void performDestroy() {
        try {
            getJpaController().destroy(current.getWriterid());
            JsfUtil.addSuccessMessage(ResourceBundle.getBundle("/Bundle").getString("WriterDeleted"));
        } catch (Exception e) {
            JsfUtil.addErrorMessage(e, ResourceBundle.getBundle("/Bundle").getString("PersistenceErrorOccured"));
        }
    }

    private void updateCurrentItem() {
        int count = getJpaController().getWriterCount();
        if (selectedItemIndex >= count) {
            // selected index cannot be bigger than number of items:
            selectedItemIndex = count - 1;
            // go to previous page if last page disappeared:
            if (pagination.getPageFirstItem() >= count) {
                pagination.previousPage();
            }
        }
        if (selectedItemIndex >= 0) {
            current = getJpaController().findWriterEntities(1, selectedItemIndex).get(0);
        }
    }

    public DataModel getItems() {
        if (items == null) {
            items = getPagination().createPageDataModel();
        }
        return items;
    }

    private void recreateModel() {
        items = null;
    }

    public String next() {
        getPagination().nextPage();
        recreateModel();
        return "List";
    }

    public String previous() {
        getPagination().previousPage();
        recreateModel();
        return "List";
    }

    public SelectItem[] getItemsAvailableSelectMany() {
        return JsfUtil.getSelectItems(getJpaController().findWriterEntities(), false);
    }

    public SelectItem[] getItemsAvailableSelectOne() {
        return JsfUtil.getSelectItems(getJpaController().findWriterEntities(), true);
    }

    @FacesConverter(forClass = Writer.class)
    public static class WriterControllerConverter implements Converter {

        public Object getAsObject(FacesContext facesContext, UIComponent component, String value) {
            if (value == null || value.length() == 0) {
                return null;
            }
            WriterController controller = (WriterController) facesContext.getApplication().getELResolver().
                    getValue(facesContext.getELContext(), null, "writerController");
            return controller.getJpaController().findWriter(getKey(value));
        }

        java.lang.Integer getKey(String value) {
            java.lang.Integer key;
            key = Integer.valueOf(value);
            return key;
        }

        String getStringKey(java.lang.Integer value) {
            StringBuffer sb = new StringBuffer();
            sb.append(value);
            return sb.toString();
        }

        public String getAsString(FacesContext facesContext, UIComponent component, Object object) {
            if (object == null) {
                return null;
            }
            if (object instanceof Writer) {
                Writer o = (Writer) object;
                return getStringKey(o.getWriterid());
            } else {
                throw new IllegalArgumentException("object " + object + " is of type " + object.getClass().getName() + "; expected type: " + WriterController.class.getName());
            }
        }
    }
}

JSF Utility Class

package jsf.util;

import javax.faces.application.FacesMessage;

// Other imports here

public class JsfUtil {

    public static SelectItem[] getSelectItems(List<?> entities, boolean selectOne) {
        int size = selectOne ? entities.size() + 1 : entities.size();
        SelectItem[] items = new SelectItem[size];
        int i = 0;
        if (selectOne) {
            items[0] = new SelectItem("", "---");
            i++;
        }
        for (Object x : entities) {
            items[i++] = new SelectItem(x, x.toString());
        }
        return items;
    }

    public static void addErrorMessage(Exception ex, String defaultMsg) {
        String msg = ex.getLocalizedMessage();
        if (msg != null && msg.length() > 0) {
            addErrorMessage(msg);
        } else {
            addErrorMessage(defaultMsg);
        }
    }

    public static void addErrorMessages(List<String> messages) {
        for (String message : messages) {
            addErrorMessage(message);
        }
    }

    public static void addErrorMessage(String msg) {
        FacesMessage facesMsg = new FacesMessage(FacesMessage.SEVERITY_ERROR, msg, msg);
        FacesContext.getCurrentInstance().addMessage(null, facesMsg);
    }

    public static void addSuccessMessage(String msg) {
        FacesMessage facesMsg = new FacesMessage(FacesMessage.SEVERITY_INFO, msg, msg);
        FacesContext.getCurrentInstance().addMessage("successInfo", facesMsg);
    }

    public static String getRequestParameter(String key) {
        return FacesContext.getCurrentInstance().getExternalContext().getRequestParameterMap().get(key);
    }

    public static Object getObjectFromRequestParameter(String requestParameterName, Converter converter, UIComponent component) {
        String theId = JsfUtil.getRequestParameter(requestParameterName);
        return converter.getAsObject(FacesContext.getCurrentInstance(), component, theId);
    }
}

JSF Pagination helper

package jsf.util;

import javax.faces.model.DataModel;

public abstract class PaginationHelper {

    private int pageSize;
    private int page;

    public PaginationHelper(int pageSize) {
        this.pageSize = pageSize;
    }

    public abstract int getItemsCount();

    public abstract DataModel createPageDataModel();

    public int getPageFirstItem() {
        return page * pageSize;
    }

    public int getPageLastItem() {
        int i = getPageFirstItem() + pageSize - 1;
        int count = getItemsCount() - 1;
        if (i > count) {
            i = count;
        }
        if (i < 0) {
            i = 0;
        }
        return i;
    }

    public boolean isHasNextPage() {
        return (page + 1) * pageSize + 1 <= getItemsCount();
    }

    public void nextPage() {
        if (isHasNextPage()) {
            page++;
        }
    }

    public boolean isHasPreviousPage() {
        return page > 0;
    }

    public void previousPage() {
        if (isHasPreviousPage()) {
            page--;
        }
    }

    public int getPageSize() {
        return pageSize;
    }
} // END of CLASS

The JPA Controller

package jpa.controllers;

import entities.Writer;
// other imports here

    public class WriterJpaController implements Serializable {

        public WriterJpaController(UserTransaction utx, EntityManagerFactory emf) {
            this.utx = utx;
            this.emf = emf;
        }
        private UserTransaction utx = null;
        private EntityManagerFactory emf = null;

        public EntityManager getEntityManager() {
            return emf.createEntityManager();
        }

        public void create(Writer writer) throws RollbackFailureException, Exception {
            if (writer.getTopicList() == null) {
                writer.setTopicList(new ArrayList<Topic>());
            }
            if (writer.getEvaluationList() == null) {
                writer.setEvaluationList(new ArrayList<Evaluation>());
            }
            if (writer.getBookList() == null) {
                writer.setBookList(new ArrayList<Book>());
            }
            EntityManager em = null;
            try {
                utx.begin();
                em = getEntityManager();
                List<Topic> attachedTopicList = new ArrayList<Topic>();
                for (Topic topicListTopicToAttach : writer.getTopicList()) {
                    topicListTopicToAttach = em.getReference(topicListTopicToAttach.getClass(), topicListTopicToAttach.getTopicname());
                    attachedTopicList.add(topicListTopicToAttach);
                }
                writer.setTopicList(attachedTopicList);
                List<Evaluation> attachedEvaluationList = new ArrayList<Evaluation>();
                for (Evaluation evaluationListEvaluationToAttach : writer.getEvaluationList()) {
                    evaluationListEvaluationToAttach = em.getReference(evaluationListEvaluationToAttach.getClass(), evaluationListEvaluationToAttach.getEvaluationPK());
                    attachedEvaluationList.add(evaluationListEvaluationToAttach);
                }
                writer.setEvaluationList(attachedEvaluationList);
                List<Book> attachedBookList = new ArrayList<Book>();
                for (Book bookListBookToAttach : writer.getBookList()) {
                    bookListBookToAttach = em.getReference(bookListBookToAttach.getClass(), bookListBookToAttach.getBookPK());
                    attachedBookList.add(bookListBookToAttach);
                }
                writer.setBookList(attachedBookList);
                em.persist(writer);
                for (Topic topicListTopic : writer.getTopicList()) {
                    topicListTopic.getWriterList().add(writer);
                    topicListTopic = em.merge(topicListTopic);
                }
                for (Evaluation evaluationListEvaluation : writer.getEvaluationList()) {
                    Writer oldWriterOfEvaluationListEvaluation = evaluationListEvaluation.getWriter();
                    evaluationListEvaluation.setWriter(writer);
                    evaluationListEvaluation = em.merge(evaluationListEvaluation);
                    if (oldWriterOfEvaluationListEvaluation != null) {
                        oldWriterOfEvaluationListEvaluation.getEvaluationList().remove(evaluationListEvaluation);
                        oldWriterOfEvaluationListEvaluation = em.merge(oldWriterOfEvaluationListEvaluation);
                    }
                }
                for (Book bookListBook : writer.getBookList()) {
                    Writer oldWriterOfBookListBook = bookListBook.getWriter();
                    bookListBook.setWriter(writer);
                    bookListBook = em.merge(bookListBook);
                    if (oldWriterOfBookListBook != null) {
                        oldWriterOfBookListBook.getBookList().remove(bookListBook);
                        oldWriterOfBookListBook = em.merge(oldWriterOfBookListBook);
                    }
                }
                utx.commit();
            } catch (Exception ex) {
                try {
                    utx.rollback();
                } catch (Exception re) {
                    throw new RollbackFailureException("An error occurred attempting to roll back the transaction.", re);
                }
                throw ex;
            } finally {
                if (em != null) {
                    em.close();
                }
            }
        }

        public void edit(Writer writer) throws IllegalOrphanException, NonexistentEntityException, RollbackFailureException, Exception {
          // remainder of code goes here
        }

        public void destroy(Integer id) throws IllegalOrphanException, NonexistentEntityException, RollbackFailureException, Exception {
           // remainder of code goes here
        }

        public List<Writer> findWriterEntities() {
            return findWriterEntities(true, -1, -1);
        }

        public List<Writer> findWriterEntities(int maxResults, int firstResult) {
            return findWriterEntities(false, maxResults, firstResult);
        }

        private List<Writer> findWriterEntities(boolean all, int maxResults, int firstResult) {
            EntityManager em = getEntityManager();
            try {
                CriteriaQuery cq = em.getCriteriaBuilder().createQuery();
                cq.select(cq.from(Writer.class));
                Query q = em.createQuery(cq);
                if (!all) {
                    q.setMaxResults(maxResults);
                    q.setFirstResult(firstResult);
                }
                return q.getResultList();
            } finally {
                em.close();
            }
        }

        public Writer findWriter(Integer id) {
            EntityManager em = getEntityManager();
            try {
                return em.find(Writer.class, id);
            } finally {
                em.close();
            }
        }

        public int getWriterCount() {
            EntityManager em = getEntityManager();
            try {
                CriteriaQuery cq = em.getCriteriaBuilder().createQuery();
                Root<Writer> rt = cq.from(Writer.class);
                cq.select(em.getCriteriaBuilder().count(rt));
                Query q = em.createQuery(cq);
                return ((Long) q.getSingleResult()).intValue();
            } finally {
                em.close();
            }
        }

    }