Custom tag: attribute cannot contain quote?

[D. Ogranos]

In a current project, I created a custom tag to create menu items in a jsp. In the .tld, I set all attributes for the tag to have the value "rtexprvalue=true".

Now I'm trying pass a scriptlet expression to an attribute (don't bite me, >I< didn't wish to use scriptlets!):

<menu:mainMenu selected="<%=currentSetting.equals("values")%>"/>

When trying to load the page, an exception is thrown:
Attribute value currentSetting.equals("values") is quoted with " which must be escaped when used within the value

What does this mean? The quotes around "values"? How can I escape them here? I also tried storing the value in another variable, that works. But I'd rather keep the expression just where it is needed..

[Bear Bibeault]

Just as with Java, you need to escape embedded quotes or the parse can't know whether the quote is text or the closing delimiter. You could alternatively using single quotes for the outer quotes.

[David Newton]

Why mix scriptlets with tags anyway?

[Bear Bibeault]

Masochism is the only explanation.

[D. Ogranos]

I'd say dynamic attribute values are the better explanation

Anyway, I wrote the expression as currentSettings.equals(\"values\") and it works now. Looks very strange to me, but apparently its right. So thanks for the help!

[David Newton]

D. Ogranos wrote:I'd say dynamic attribute values are the better explanation

Not a good one, though; you should be using JSP EL.

[D. Ogranos]

David Newton wrote:Not a good one, though; you should be using JSP EL.

See my original post...I'd much prefer using EL, but unfortunately I do not have the say in the project. Tried and argued, but to no avail

[Bear Bibeault]

I feel your pain.

[David Newton]

That makes no sense: EL exists whether or not you're using it.

[David Newton]

Bear Bibeault wrote:I feel your pain.

And it sustains me.