Faces library definition for third party JavaServer faces controls

Introduction

Java™server Faces (JSF) technology is a common java™ framework for network user interface components. Ibm®rational®application Developer contains powerful tools for developing JSF WEB programs in the last few versions. The 7.5 release introduces new functionality for you (as a developer) and uses any Third-party JSF components at the lowest cost. This article discusses the process of using a Third-party component library, configuring metadata for the library, and sharing the result configuration to collaborate across the development team.

Before we get started, let's explore how to support third-party components in a development environment. What can you do if you have new three-party JSF controls (either created from scratch or downloaded from the Web)?

The new component needs to be obtained from the configuration board so that you can drag it to a page in the Java™server pages editor. jsp™

When a component library is first added to a WEB project, you need to add the appropriate resources to the project and take the necessary configuration steps to make the library available.

After you add a component library to a Web page, you need a way to view and configure the UI components.

You also want to control the number of other details of the UI's appearance and behavior.

All of the features mentioned above are available directly in standard JSF controls, as well as the IBM-based JavaServer Faces component library (JWL) component library. Now you know how to expand support for other JSF component libraries. This article illustrates the new features of the open source Myfaces Tomahawk component, as an example, but the same process applies to any valid JSF component library.

Create a Faces Library Definition

Rational application Developer V7.5 introduced the concept of shared configuration for Third-party component libraries. You will create a Faces library Definition (JLD), which is basically a configuration file plus additional file resources required by the library. These files are stored in a specific type of workspace project called Faces Definitions project.

For these examples, first download the Tomahawk component java™ file (JAR) file from the Apache myfaces Web site (http://myfaces.apache.org/download.html) as a representative Third-party component library.

Start with Faces Definition Project that contains library configuration metadata.

Start the wizard by selecting File > New > Project (You can find it under the Web directory).

In this wizard you only need to give the project a name (in this case, the name is Myfaces components), as shown in Figure 1.

Figure 1. Create a Faces definitions Project