The Struts Framework
Version 1.3


Java Training Overview

This advanced course shows JSP and servlet programmers how to build web applications using the Apache Struts framework. Students learn the Struts architecture and see how it captures a great deal of pre-existing best practice: in model/view/controller action mappings, form beans and custom tags for working with HTML forms, input validation, and the Tiles view-building framework. Two chapters near the end of the course cover configuration techniques and other advanced topics.

This version of the course illustrates the use of Struts 1.3

Java Training LEARNING OBJECTIVES

  • Use Struts actions and action mappings to take control of HTTP requests/responses.
  • Manage HTML form input and output with form beans, and use these beans to simplify data handling in the controller.
  • Use JSTL and Struts custom tags to build robust and reusable JSP presentation logic.
  • Support multiple client locales with various internationalization techniques.
  • Define validation rules for input forms, and provide clear user feedback.
  • Build complex presentations using decoupled, reusable tiles, screens and layouts.
Java Training Prerequisites

  • Java programming
  • Servlets programming
  • JSP
  • Basic knowledge of XML is recommended but not essential
Java Training Course duration

4 days

Java Training Course outline

Chapter 1. Struts Architecture
  • MVC and Model 2
  • Command Pattern
  • Jakarta Struts
  • More XML, Less Java!
  • Action Mappings
  • JavaBeans in Struts
  • Working with Forms
  • Validation
  • Presentation Technology
  • Tiles
Chapter 2. Action Mappings
  • Command Pattern for Web Applications
  • ActionServlet
  • Action and Action Mappings
  • Struts Configuration
  • Selecting a Forward
  • Global Forwards
  • Declarative Exception Handling
  • Global Exception Handlers
Chapter 3. Forms
  • Working with HTML Forms
  • Action Forms, a/k/a Form Beans
  • Relationship to Input
  • Relationship to Actions
  • Relationship to the Model
  • Relationship to Output
  • DynaActionForm and Map-Backed Forms
  • Validation
  • Coarse-Grained Form Beans
Chapter 4. Struts Tag Libraries
  • Building View Components
  • Struts Tag Libraries
  • Attributes and Struts Expressions
  • Building Forms
  • <html:form>
  • <html:text> et. al.
  • Forms and Form Beans
  • Scope and Duration of Form Data
  • Managing Hyperlinks
  • Error Messages
  • Logic Tags
Chapter 5. The JSP Standard Tag Library
  • JSTL Overview
  • JSP Expression Language
  • Core Tags
  • Formatting Tags
  • SQL Tags
  • XML Tags
  • Mixing JSTL, EL, Scripts and Actions
  • Indexed Properties and Struts HTML Forms
Chapter 6. Internationalization and Localization
  • i18n in Java
  • i18n in Actions
  • i18n in JSTL
  • i18n in Validation
Chapter 7. Input Validation
  • Validation in Web Applications
  • Validation in Struts
  • The Struts Validator Plug-In
  • Validating ActionForm Subtypes
  • Configuring Validation
  • Standard Validators
  • Rules
  • The ActionMessages Class
  • Is <html:form> Necessary?
  • Reporting Errors
  • Multi-Page Validation
  • Client-Side Validation
  • Limitations on the Client Side
  • Implementing a Validator
  • Implementing ActionForm.validate
  • Mapping-Based Validation
Chapter 8. Advanced Configuration
  • Struts Configuration in Depth
  • Wildcards
  • Extensions
  • The Configuration Object Model
  • Subclasses and <set-property>
  • Plug-Ins
  • Integrating Other Frameworks
  • Role-Based Security
  • Chaining Actions
  • The ComposableRequestProcessor Class
  • Configuring Command Chains
  • Modules
Chapter 9. Under the Hood
  • Global Objects
  • Specialized Struts Actions
  • The Utility Package
  • The Commons BeanUtils Class
  • Form Beans as Adapters to the Business Tier
  • Reusing Validation Rules
  • Graceful Validation
Chapter 10. Tiles
  • Consistent Look and Feel
  • Reusable Layouts and Content
  • The Tiles Framework
  • Instantiating Layouts
  • Body-Wrap Insertions
  • Tiles and Stylesheets
  • Working with Tiles Attributes
  • The Tiles Context
  • Definitions
  • Aggregation and Inheritance
  • The Tiles Plug-In
  • Forwarding to Definitions
  • Performance Considerations
Appendix A. Learning Resources

Appendix B. Quick Reference

Hardware/Software Requirements

Hardware – minimal

1.0 GHz, 500 meg RAM, 500 meg disk space.

Hardware – recommended

1.5 GHz, 1 gig RAM, 1 gig disk space.

Operating system

Tested on Windows XP Professional. Course software should be viable on all systems which support a J2SE 5.0 JDK.

Software

All free downloadable tools.



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