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Introduction to JavaServer Faces (JSF 2) Plus PrimeFaces

JSF is a JEE technology that focuses on simplifying the building of Web based user interfaces in Java. It builds on existing technologies, such as Servlets/JSP, but solves many of the issues that arise when using them directly. It does this by providing a standard component based user interface (UI) framework that can be leveraged by tools to provide a rich and easy to use development environment. PrimeFaces is a library that adds additional functionality to JSF2.

This course will get you up to speed with JSF 2 in a very short time, as well as showing how to use the PrimeFaces library. It includes all the important concepts, as well as numerous hands on labs that will have you building working JSF applications very quickly. It covers all the important architectural concepts, as well as providing practical instruction on how to use the many capabilities of the JSF framework. It includes coverage of all important capabilities that are new in JSF 2, including the use of Facelets, and using the new JSF 2 annotations. It also covers new JSF 2.2 capabilities such as Faces Flow and HTML 5 support.

The course includes a broad coverage of the most important JSF capabilities, including the JSF architecture, working with managed beans, the JSF Expression Language, creating JSF pages with facelets and/or JSP, the JSF core and HTML tag libraries, data tables, validation, and conversion. After learning this m aterial, you’ll be ready to use JSF to create your own solutions in the most demanding situations.

Course Information:

Availability: NOW AVAILABLE

Course Code: JSF2-PRIMEFACES

Price: $225

Duration: 5 days

Labs: many hands-on labs (minimum 50% of course)

Prerequisites: Working knowledge of Java programming, including use of inheritance, interfaces, and exceptions

Supported Software Environments:

  • Standard: Java 8 and Eclipse IDE
  • Standard App Server: WildFly/JBoss®
(Non-standard software may require additional wait and incur additional charges.)

Course Objectives:

  • Understand the shortcomings of servlets/JSP, and the need for a framework like JSF
  • Understand MVC and the JSF architecture
  • Create & configure applications using JSF, including the FacesServlet, and the faces-config.xml file
  • Understand and use Managed Beans to manage application data
  • Configure navigation rules for your Web application
  • Use facelets to create JSF2 Web pages
  • Use the JSF core and html tags and the JSF expression language
  • Lay out tables using the JSF h:datatable and associated tags
  • Handle action events, value change events, and data model events
  • Use JSF Validators to validate your input data
  • Understand and use JSF data conversion
  • Use composition to create custom tags and templates
  • Understand the JSF request lifecycle, and write phase listeners
  • Use JSF’s Ajax capabilities
  • Know how to acquire and use PrimeFaces
  • Be familiar with and use PrimeFaces components (e.g. Input and Container components)
  • Use other PrimeFaces functionality like Ajax and client-side validation
  • Understand and use the JSF HTML 5 integration
  • Be familiar with Faces Flow at a high level, and use it for page flow

Course Outline:

  • Session 1: Overview of Java EE and Java Web Applications
    • Java EE and Web App Overview
    • Servlet, Servlet Scopes
    • JSPs, JSP Lifecycle
    • Custom Tags, Tag Libraries, taglib directive
    • Model View Controller
  • Session 2: Getting started with JSF  
    • JSF Overview
      • Purpose and Goals
      • JSF Architecture
      • JSF Views - facelets and JSP Pages
      • Managed Beans, Controler, configuration
    • Downloading and Installing JSF
    • Your first JSF Application - setup, configuration, deployment
    • Server setup and use
  • Session 3: Managed Beans
    • Defining a Managed Bean (annotation-based and configuration in faces-config.xm)
    • Managed Bean Lifecycle
    • Managed Beans and JSF Forms
    • Managed Beans as Value Binding Expressions
    • JSF Expression Language (EL) & the Unified EL (JSF 1.2)
    • Value Binding Expressions
    • Method Binding Expressions
    • Implicit Objects
  • Session 4: JSF Navigation
    • <navigation-rule> configuration issues
    • <navigation-case> and nested elements
    • How to use the navigation rules
  • Session 5: Facelets and JSF Tag Libraries
    • Facelet Introduction and Life Cycle
    • JSF Tag Library Overview
    • JSF Core tags <f:tagName>
    • JSF HTML tags <h:tagName>
    • Using the Most Common Form controls – TextFields, Buttons, Links …
  • Session 6: h:dataTable
    • <h:dataTable> tag and nested tags <h:column> etc.
    • Working with collections of type List or array
    • Table headers and footers, f:facet
  • Session 7: More about JSF Tags
    • Using <h:commandLink> and <h:outputLink>
    • Using the h:selectXxx Tags (e.g h:selectManyListbox)
    • JSF Event Model (Action, Value Change, and Data Model Listeners)
  • Session 8: JSF Data Validation
    • Standard Validators
    • required, validateDoubleRange, validateLongRange
    • Creating, configuring, and using Custom Validators
  • Session 9: JSF Data Conversion
    • Standard JSF Converters
    • convertDateTime, convertNumber - configuration and usage
    • Custom Converters
  • Session 10: Templates
    • Layout Issues in Web Pages
    • Using Templates with Facelets
    • Creating Custom Composite Components
  • Session 11: JSF Lifecycle
    • Lifecycle Overview
    • Initial requests and postbacks
    • Restore View, Apply Request Values, Process Events, Process Validations, Update Model Values, Invoke Application, Render Response
    • renderResponse() and renderComplete()
    • Phase listeners
  • Session 12: Additional Topics
    • Backing Beans / UIComponents
    • JSF and CSS
    • JSF and JavaScript
    • Localization and Resource Bundles
  • Session 13: JSF and Ajax
    • Ajax Overview
    • Using f:ajax
    • Event Triggers for "Ajax-ified" Components
    • Listener Methods
  • Session 14: Composite Components
    • Overview
    • Using composite:interface, composite:attribute, and composite:implementation
    • Passing Managed Beans and Methods to a Component
    • Adding Listeners and Actions
  • Session 15: JSP Pages and JSF
    • JSP Overview
    • Create JSF Pages Using JSP
  • Session 16: JSF and HTML 5
    • Overview
    • Pass-Through Attributes
    • Pass-Through Elements
  • Session 17: Introducing PrimeFaces
    • Overview and Installation
    • Using PrimeFaces
    • Component Overview
    • Container Components
  • Session 18: Some PrimeFaces Capabilities
    • Ajax with PrimeFaces
    • Client Side Validation
    • Other Capabilities
  • Session 19: Introducing Faces Flow
    • Overview
    • A Simple Flow
    • XML Flow Configuration
    • Java Flow Configuration
    • Flow Scoped Data
    • Nested Flows