Is it possible to define a variable in Java and use that in JSP code?

Question

I have a drop down like below:

<html:select styleId="colorCodeId" property="msSpec.colorcodeId" name="Form"  styleClass="form-control">
                            <option value="-1"></option>
                            <html:optionsCollection property="colorcodeList" style="background: <%=test1%>;"/>
                        </html:select>

in Java code I have:

List<LabelValueBean> colorcodeList = new ArrayList<LabelValueBean>();
for (Mty property : customPropertyList) {
            LabelValueBean bean = new LabelValueBean(property.getName(), property.getId().toString());

if (property instanceof ColorCode) {
                test1 = property.getName();
                System.out.println("test1: " + test1);
                colorcodeList.add(bean);
            }
}

Is it possible I define test1 like above and use that as a background color in my drop down? Right now it doesn't work.

Answer 1

You can use a JSP EL expression instead of the variable. The reason is to remove scriptlets from your code.

<html:select styleId="colorCodeId" property="msSpec.colorcodeId" name="Form"  styleClass="form-control" style="${test1}">
                            <option value="-1"></option>
                            <html:optionsCollection property="colorcodeList" />
                        </html:select> 

In the action you write

List<LabelValueBean> colorcodeList = new ArrayList<LabelValueBean>();
for (Mty property : customPropertyList) {
            LabelValueBean bean = new LabelValueBean(property.getName(), property.getId().toString());

if (property instanceof ColorCode) {
                test1 = property.getName();
                System.out.println("test1: " + test1);
                request.setAttribute("test1", "background: "+test1+";");
                colorcodeList.add(bean);
            }

}