Creating a new web application

1. Choose File > New Project. Under Categories, select Web. Under Projects, select Web Application and click Next.
2. Under Project Name, type MyCompany.
3. Set the Project Location to any folder on your computer. From now on, this folder is referred to as $PROJECTHOME. Leave the Set as Main Project checkbox selected. Notice that the Context Path is /MyCompany.
4. Click Finish. The IDE creates the $PROJECTHOME/MyCompany project folder. The project folder contains all your sources and project metadata, such as the project Ant script. The MyCompany project opens in the IDE. You can view its logical structure in the Projects window and its file structure in the Files window.

Accessing and including graphics

1. Download the taglib.zip file from http://www.netbeans.org/files/documents/4/688/taglib.zip.
2. Unzip the taglib.zip file to your web application's web folder. You can see the new $PROJECTHOME/MyCompany/web/logos folder in the Projects window. The folder contains the LogoLarge.gif file and the LogoSmall.gif file.

Accessing tags from the bundled JSTL 1.1 library

Later in this tutorial, you will create tag files that use tags from the JSTL 1.1 library. This library is bundled with NetBeans IDE 4.0. However, you need to add it to your project's classpath.

1. Right-click the MyCompany project node in the Projects window and choose Properties.
2. Select Compiling Sources and click Add Library. Your libraries, as well as those that are bundled with NetBeans IDE 4.0 are displayed. JSTL 1.1 is one of the bundled libraries.
3. Select JSTL 1.1 and click Add Library.
4. Leave the checkbox to the right of the JSTL 1.1 library selected.

Accessing tags from the Jakarta project's DateTime Tag Library

Later in this tutorial, you will create a JSP file that uses a tag from the Jakarta project's DateTime Tag Library. This library contains tags that can be used to handle date and time related functions. For example, tags are provided for formatting a date for output, generating a date from HTML form input, using time zones, and localization.

1. Download the DateTime Tag Library from http://jakarta.apache.org/taglibs/doc/datetime-doc/intro.html.
2. Right-click the MyCompany project node in the Projects window and choose Properties.
3. Select Compiling Sources and click Add JAR/Folder. Browse and select the taglibs-datetime.jar file.
4. Leave the checkbox to the right of the JAR file selected.
5. Click OK to close the Project Properties dialog box.

Creating a TLD file to define the properties of a tag library and its tags

For each tag handler that you create in this tutorial, the NetBeans IDE generates a mapping from the SimpleTagLib TLD file to the tag's implementation in the tag handler's Java class.

1. Right-click the MyCompany project node and choose New > File/Folder. Under Categories, select Web. Under File Types, select Tag Library Descriptor and click Next.
2. Type SimpleTagLib in the Tag Library Descriptor File Name Name text box.
3. Type http://netbeans.org/tlds/SimpleTagLib in the URI text box.
4. Click Finish. The IDE creates the web/WEB-INF/tlds folder and adds the tag library descriptor to it. SimpleTagLib.tld opens in the Source Editor.

Scenario 1: JSP syntax

1. Right-click the MyCompany project node and choose New > File/Folder. Under Categories, select Web. Under File Types, select Tag File and click Next.
2. Type DisplayLogoTag in the Tag File Name text box. Note that the IDE adds the tag file to the WEB-INF/tags folder. Click Finish. DisplayLogoTag.tag opens in the Source Editor.
3. Replace the default code with the following:

   
      <%@tag description = "Display logo" pageEncoding="UTF-8"%>
      <%@taglib prefix="c" uri="http://java.sun.com/jsp/jstl/core" %>
   
      <%@attribute name="size" required="true"%>
   
          <c:choose>
   	   <c:when test="${size == 'large'}">
   	       <img
   		src='logos/LogoLarge.gif'
                   align='Center'>
   	   </c:when>
   	   <c:otherwise>
                  <img
                   src='logos/LogoSmall.gif'
                   align='Center'>
              </c:otherwise>
          </c:choose>
   
      <jsp:doBody/>
   

Note: The tag file includes a <%@taglib> directive with a uri attribute, which specifies that the prefix c refers to a tag handler in the JSTL 1.1 library. See the Use Tags section below for further details on this directive. To be able to use the JSTL 1.1 library, you must add it to your web application as described in the Accessing tags from the bundled JSTL 1.1 library section above.

Scenario 2: Java programming language

1. Right-click the MyCompany project node and choose New > File/Folder. Under Categories, select Web. Under File Types, select Tag Handler and click Next.
2. Type DisplayLogoTag in the Class Name text box and type org.me.logo in the Package combo box. Note that the IDE adds the tag handler to the Source Packages folder. Make sure that SimpleTagSupport is selected and click Next.
3. Click Browse and select your SimpleTagLib tag library descriptor in the WEB-INF/tlds folder.
4. Select Empty under Body Content.
5. Click New. Type size in the Attribute Name text box and select the Required Attribute checkbox. Click OK.
6. Click Finish. DisplayLogoTag.java opens in the Source Editor.
7. Select doTag from the dropdown above the Source Editor. The cursor is set on the doTag method.
8. Modify the doTag method by replacing the first // TODO section with the following code:

   
         if (size.equals("large"))
         	out.println("<img src='logos/LogoLarge.gif' align='Center' />");
         else
   	out.println("<img src='logos/LogoSmall.gif' align='Center' />");
   
   

9. Press Ctrl-Shift-F to format the file.
10. Press Ctrl-S to save the file.

Scenario 1: JSP syntax

1. Right-click the MyCompany project node and choose New > File/Folder. Under Categories, select Web. Under File Types, select Tag File and click Next.
2. Type FormatTextTag in the Tag File Name text box. Note that the IDE adds the tag file to the WEB-INF/tags folder. Click Finish. FormatTextTag.tag opens in the Source Editor.
3. Replace the default code with the following:

   
      <%@tag description = "Format text" pageEncoding="UTF-8"%>
      <%@taglib prefix="c" uri="http://java.sun.com/jsp/jstl/core" %>
   
      <%@attribute name="style" required="true"%>
   
         <c:choose>
   	   <c:when test="${style == 'official'}">
   	       <b><i><font size='+3' color='red'>
   	   </c:when>
   	   <c:otherwise><font size='+1'></c:otherwise>
          </c:choose>
   
      <jsp:doBody/>
   
          <c:choose>
   	   <c:when test="${style == 'official'}">
   	       </font></i></b>
   	   </c:when>
   	   <c:otherwise></font></c:otherwise>
          </c:choose>
   
   

   Note: The tag file includes a <%@taglib> directive with a uri attribute, which specifies that the prefix c refers to a tag handler in the JSTL 1.1 library. See the Use Tags section below for further details on this directive. To be able to use the JSTL 1.1 library, you must add it to your web application as described in the Accessing tags from the bundled JSTL 1.1 library section above.

4. Press Ctrl-Shift-F to format the file.
5. Press Ctrl-S to save the file.

Scenario 2: Java programming language

1. Right-click the MyCompany project node and choose New > File/Folder. Under Categories, select Web. Under File Types, select Tag Handler and click Next.
2. Type FormatTextTag in the Class Name text box. Note that the IDE adds the tag handler to the org.me.logo package within the Source Packages folder. Make sure that SimpleTagSupport is selected and click Next.
3. Click Browse and select your SimpleTagLib tag library descriptor in the WEB-INF/tlds folder.
4. Make sure that Scriptless is selected under Body Content.
5. Click New. Type style in the Attribute Name text box and select the Required Attribute checkbox. Click OK.
6. Click Finish. FormatTextTag.java opens in the Source Editor.
7. Select doTag from the dropdown above the Source Editor. The cursor is set on the doTag method.
8. Modify the doTag method as follows:
   • Replace the first // TODO section with the following:

     
           if (style.equals("official"))
           	out.println("<b><i><font size='+3' color='red'>");
           else
              out.println("<font size='+1'> ");
     
     

   • Replace the second // TODO section with the following:

     
           if (style.equals("official"))
     	out.println("</font></i></b>");
           else
     	out.println("</font>");
     
     

9. Press Ctrl-Shift-F to format the file.
10. Press Ctrl-S to save the file.

Scenario 1: Referencing tag files

1. In the Projects window, expand the MyCompany project node and the Web Pages node. Notice the IDE has created a default JavaServer Pages page, index.jsp, for you.
2. Double-click index.jsp. It opens in the Source Editor.
3. In the Source Editor, create a taglib directive as follows:
   • Insert a line under the last <%@page> directive, and type <%@taglib. The code completion box should open and display <%@taglib>. Press Enter. If the code completion box does not appear, press Ctrl-Space.
   • Press the Space bar. The code completion box opens and displays all the attributes for the taglib directive. If the code completion box does not open, press Ctrl-Space to manually open it.
   • Use the arrow keys to select prefix in the code completion box and press Enter.
   • Press the Space bar again and select tagdir and Press Enter.
   • Type disp between the quotation marks for the prefix.
   • Place the cursor between the quotation marks for the tagdir and press Ctrl-Space. The code completion box should open and display all the web application's tag libraries.
   • Use the arrow keys to select /WEB-INF/tags and press Enter. The taglib directive should look like the following line:
     

         <%@taglib prefix="disp" tagdir="/WEB-INF/tags" %>

4. Now reference the Jakarta project's tag handlers and use the tags in a JSP file.

Scenario 2: Referencing tag handlers through the SimpleTagLib TLD file

1. In the Projects window, expand the MyCompany project node and the Web Pages node. Notice the IDE has created a default JavaServer Pages page, index.jsp, for you.
2. Double-click index.jsp. It opens in the Source Editor.
3. In the Source Editor, create a taglib directive as follows:
   • Insert a line under the last <%@page> directive, and type <%@taglib. The code completion box opens and displays <%@taglib>. Press Enter. If the code completion box does not appear, press Ctrl-Space to manually open it.
   • Press the Space bar. The code completion box opens and displays all the attributes for the taglib directive. If the code completion box does not open, press Ctrl-Space to manually open it.
   • Use the arrow keys to select prefix in the code completion box and press Enter.
   • Press the Space bar again and select uri and press Enter.
   • Type disp between the quotation marks for the prefix.
   • Place the cursor between the quotation marks for the uri and press Ctrl-Space. The code completion box opens and displays all the web application's tag libraries.
   • Use the arrow keys to select http://netbeans.org/tlds/SimpleTagLib and press Enter. The taglib directive should look like the following line:
     

         <%@taglib prefix="disp" uri="http://netbeans.org/tlds/SimpleTagLib" %>

Referencing the Jakarta project's tag handlers through the DateTime-1.0 TLD file

• Add a taglib directive to reference the Jakarta project's DateTime TLD file:
  

      <%@taglib prefix="dt" uri="http://jakarta.apache.org/taglibs/datetime-1.0" %>

Using tags in a JSP file

1. Replace the <body> tags and their content with the following code:

   
      <body>
         <disp:DisplayLogoTag size="large"/>
         <disp:FormatTextTag style="official">My Company</disp:FormatTextTag>
   
         <p><blockquote>This is
         <disp:FormatTextTag style="professional">My Company</disp:FormatTextTag>.
         It's a fun company and we make extremely useful products.</blockquote>
   
         <p class="align-center"><disp:DisplayLogoTag size="small"/>
         My Company<br>
         1234 Any St.<br>
         Anytown, CA 95110
   
         <br><br>
         Today's date:
         <b><dt:format pattern="MM/dd/yyyy"><dt:currentTime/></dt:format></b>
   
      </body>
   
   

2. Press Ctrl-Shift-F to format the file.
3. Press Ctrl-S to save the file.

Building a project

• Choose Build > Build Main Project (F11). The MyCompany project is built.

Running a project

1. Choose Run > Run Main Project (F6) from the Run menu. Double-click the Output window's titlebar to maximize it so you can see all the output. Note that Ant builds MyCompany.war first and then compiles the project using it. Finally, it deploys the web application using the IDE's default server as shown below:

   

2. Double-click the Output window's titlebar to return it to its normal size. Select the Files window and expand the project node. The build class files are in the build folder. The build WAR file (MyCompany.war) is in the dist folder.

Generating Javadoc

• In the Projects window, right-click the project node and choose Generate Javadoc for Project. Javadoc output appears in the Output window, and your web browser opens displaying the Javadoc.

Validating that your tags use the prescribed body content

The SimpleTagLib TLD file created in this tutorial maps tags in the library to an associated tag handler. When you compile the index.jsp file, the NetBeans IDE identifies conflicts between the mappings and the way their corresponding tags have been used in the JSP file. To illustrate this, do the following:

1. Expand the MyCompany project node, expand the Web Pages node, expand the WEB-INF node, and expand the tlds node. Double-click the SimpleTagLib.tld node. The tag library descriptor opens in the Source Editor.
2. Change the value of the FormatTextTag's <bodycontent> tag from scriptless to empty.
3. Double-click the index.jsp file. It opens in the Source Editor. Note that the FormatTextTag is not empty. For example, its first instance is as follows:

       <disp:FormatTextTag style="official">My Company</disp:FormatTextTag>

   Compare this to the instances of the DisplayLogoTag, which are empty in the index.jsp file:

       <disp:DisplayLogoTag size="large"/>

       <disp:DisplayLogoTag size="small"/>

4. Make sure that your JSP file's <%@taglib> directive points to the SimpleTagLib.tld tag library descriptor. The <%@taglib> directive should look like the following line:

       <%@taglib prefix="disp" uri="http://netbeans.org/tlds/SimpleTagLib" %>

5. Right-click index.jsp and choose Compile File (F9) from the contextual menu. The JSP file does not compile because of the following error:

       org.apache.jasper.JasperException:  According to TLD, tag disp:FormatTextTag
       must be empty, but is not

6. In the the SimpleTagLib.tld file, change the value of the FormatTextTag's <bodycontent> tag from empty back to scriptless.
7. Right-click index.jsp and choose Compile File (F9) from the contextual menu again. The JSP file is compiled.

Validating that your tags use the prescribed tag libraries

The PermittedTaglibsTLV validator is part of the JSTL 1.1 library. It allows a TLD to restrict which tag libraries, in addition to itself, may be imported in a JSP file.

Note: You must specify a permitted tag library's URI in the <param-value> section. A tag handler has a URI property, a tag file does not. Therefore, the PermittedTaglibs validator is currently only supported for tag handlers.

1. Right-click the MyCompany project node and choose New > Tag Library Descriptor.
2. Type ApprovedTagLibs in the Class Name text box.
3. Type http://netbeans.org/tlds/ApprovedTagLibs in the URI text box.
4. Click Finish. The IDE adds the tag library descriptor to it. ApprovedTagLibs.tld opens in the Source Editor.
5. In the Source Editor, replace the default <validator> tags with the following code:

   <validator>
      <validator-class>
        javax.servlet.jsp.jstl.tlv.PermittedTaglibsTLV
      </validator-class>
      <init-param>
           <param-name>permittedTaglibs</param-name>
	   <param-value>
	       http://jakarta.apache.org/taglibs/datetime-1.0
           </param-value>
      </init-param>
   </validator>

6. Add a taglib directive to the index.jsp file to reference the ApprovedTagLibs TLD file:
   

       <%@taglib prefix="apptglib" uri="http://netbeans.org/tlds/ApprovedTagLibs" %>

7. Right-click index.jsp and choose Compile File (F9) from the contextual menu. The JSP file does not compile because of the following error:

       org.apache.jasper.JasperException:
         <h3>Validation error messages from TagLibraryValidator
       for accepted-taglibs<p>null: taglib apptglib
         (urn:jsptld:/WEB-INF/tlds/accepted-taglibs)
       allows only the following taglibs to be imported:
         [http://jakarta.apache.org/taglibs/datetime-1.0]</p>

8. In the the ApprovedTagLibs.tld file, add the http://netbeans.org/tlds/SimpleTagLib line to the <validator> section. The validator now looks as follows:

   
      <validator>
         <validator-class>
           javax.servlet.jsp.jstl.tlv.PermittedTaglibsTLV
         </validator-class>
         <init-param>
              <param-name>permittedTaglibs</param-name>
   	   <param-value>
   	       http://jakarta.apache.org/taglibs/datetime-1.0
                  http://netbeans.org/tlds/SimpleTagLib
              </param-value>
         </init-param>
      </validator>
   
   

9. Right-click index.jsp and choose Compile File (F9) from the contextual menu again. The JSP file is compiled.

Midnight Cookie Company Tutorial

This is an advanced NetBeans IDE tutorial that shows you how to build, deploy, and execute a web application that contains JSP pages and Java servlets. The web application uses tags from the JSTL tag library for internationalization. The tutorial also shows how to use the HTTP monitor to view the requests and responses between the server and the web browser.

Validating Custom Tags at Translation Time

This interesting article discusses two types of compile-time validation that can be used in addition to a tag library descriptor to validate tags:

• Extra validation for a custom tag through a Tag Extra Info (TEI)
• Validation for the JSP document using the taglib through a Tag Library Validator (TLV)

The ApprovedTagLibs.tld tag library descriptor that you created in this tutorial is discussed in this java.net article too.