Re: JSF/EGL datatable positioning question

From: Nathan Andelin

<snip from Joe Pluta>
The problem with that assumption is that EGL isn't a framework, it's a
platform independent model that uses model transformation to generate a
platform specific implementation. In simpler terms, EGL can generate
COBOL or Java, and use JSF or a thick client as its UI.
</snip>

The model transformations are the missing link, for me. I posted an
example of an HTML document, which included a Javascript statement, which
caused a specific table row to scroll into view, which is the behavior
that Tim said he was looking for, but how to get that specific
implementation from EGL is the part I don't understand.

Actually, Nathan, that's the reason I'm not yet a firm believer in the whole
modeling concept. I don't understand how every nuance of a specific UI can
be defined in a platform-agnostic model. It seems to me that SOMEWHERE
along the way you have to apply platform-specific details, and that means
some additional work somewhere down the line.

But the UI in EGL is not really generated from a high-level construct that
same way the business logic is. The business logic is written in the 4GL,
but the UI is constructed using the WYSIWYG editor, much the same way you
would use SDA to create a green screen.

<snip from Tim>
<hx:dataTableEx id="tableEx3" value="#{qdashboard.userrecselectUI}"
var="varuserrecselectUI" styleClass="dataTableEx"
headerClass="headerClass" footerClass="footerClass" rowClasses="rowClass1,
rowClass2" border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" scrollSize="250px"
</snip>

That JSF tag looks like it may generate a scrollable <div> and <table>,
perhaps similar to the HTML code I posted in my example, but evidently
lacks the behavior Tim is asking for. So, is Tim limited to the code
generated by EGL, or can he extend or override it to generate what he's
looking for.

I typically use Dreamweaver, which has a WYSIWYG design surface and
wizards and property sheets for laying out an HTML template, but I can
also go into code view to change or extend the generated HTML. Can you do
that with EGL? Are you limited by the generator?

And this is where Rational shines, in my opinion. The JSF editor in
Rational is quite good and will allow you to do both WYSIWYG and
source-level editing on the JSF page. You can add JavaScript using either a
point-and-click interface (via a Properties sheet for a widget) or you can
manually modify the source code. I'm pretty sure you could add the code you
ask for.

But more importantly, the editor is EGL aware, and it typically allows you
to directly bind a JSF tag to an EGL variable, so my guess is that you could
not only add the tag, but also bind it to an EGL variable fairly easily.

However, I haven't tried it and I risk passing on an untruth until I do.
But you can see binding in the "#{qdashboard.userrecselectUI}" clause above.

Joe