How to pass data from client side to server side in Struts using javascript

[Robert Wiscup]

Hi All,

I have a javascript function called "dostuff" (as shown below) that is called when I click on a hyperlink on my .jsp. I'm basically trying to pass some client side data in my textbox on my .jsp to my action using javascript . . . something like shown below. However, I'm not sure how to do this (or the syntax). Can someone assist me with this? Your help is much appreciated.

    

<script type="text/javascript">      

function dostuff()
   {
   
   
      var x = document.ProblemForm.problemDescription.value;
      
      <%= request.setAttribute("Description", document.ProblemForm.problemDescription.value) %>
		
		
   }	

</script>

Thanks,

Rob

[Sue Temple]

You should not need to do pass any values explicitly - Struts takes care of that for you.

Here is some pseudo code -

JSP:

 
     <s:textfield name="name" />
     <html:link page="/inventory">    

struts.xml:

   
<action name="inventory" class="com.demo.sample.InventoryBean" method="getItemsList()">
     <result name="render">inventory.jsp</result>
</action>    

InventoryBean:

private String name;  

//if you are using eclipse, consider getting eclipse to generate these getters and setters for you by
// doing - Control-Alt-S --> generate getters and setters 
public String getName() 
{
      return this.name;
}

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

public List<Items> getItemsList()  
{
       //call ejb or dao method to return items
}

There are several examples online - I found this when I searched for one now - Struts2 CRUD Example

Hope this helps.

[Robert Wiscup]

Hi Sue,

Thank you for responding . . . but I'm using Struts 1 and not Struts 2.

Sorry I should have said so . . .

Thanks,

Rob

[Sue Temple]

The outline holds good for Struts1 as well, with some syntax change.

Struts 1 Hello World

[David Newton]

Robert Wiscup wrote:

<script type="text/javascript">      
    function dostuff() {
        <%= request.setAttribute("Description", document.ProblemForm.problemDescription.value) %>
    }	
</script>

Multiple issues. Here you're trying to use JavaScript inside Java, *and* you're setting an attribute in the *current* request. I'd suggest reading up on how web applications work before proceeding much further--you're due for tears and frustration without understanding the lifecycle of Java, JavaScript, HTTP requests, and the like.

The only way data gets from a browser to a server is via form submissions, XHR (Ajax) requests, etc.

@Sue: have a care regarding line length and weird formatting.

[Robert Wiscup]

Hi David,

Thanks for responding . . .

You can't really do what I was trying to do. As you said you can only get data from client to server via posting of a form and some other techniques . . . so I've rearranged things and everything is working fine now . . .

Thanks,

Rob