Introduction

The Struts-Layout datagrid framework allow to easily display a list of objects and modify them. The datagrid features are:

• lines editing,
• addition of new lines without server request,
• single / multiple line selection,
• modification of the state of the selected lines
• association of a css class to each possible state
• initialization of the selected lines and states with the datagrid Java API
• Java API allowing to get the modified lines, the added lines, the removed lines and the lines with a specific state
• Works with any object class (BeanUtils is used)

Creating a datagrid

Here are the required steps to create a datagrid:

• A Struts form bean must be defined
• A property of type fr.improve.struts.taglib.layout.datagrid.Datagrid must be added to the Struts form
• A Struts Action must be created to define the datagrid. The action must be associated with the previous form, and the form must be putted in the session scope
• The Struts action must initialize the datagrid form property to a new Datagrid object
• The object list and type must be set to the Datagrid object
• The jsp file displaying the datagrid must use the defined Struts form bean
• The tag <layout:datagrid> must be used to display the datagrid. This tag must be nested in a <layout:from> or a <html:form> tag
• The tag <layout:datagridColumn> must be used to specify the different columns of the datagrid. This tag must be nested in the <layout:datagrid> tag

Next : creating the form bean and the Struts action.