Search code examples
javascriptjavagwtsmartgwtsmartgwt-pro

Using GWT JSNI to integrate with js files


I am currently working on a GWT project and it now needs to used by an external JavaScript file. I am creating a test prototype right now to ensure both sides are working properly.

When I run and compile, I see the console logs in the browser from the events being called. However, the GWT java methods are not being called.

After trying many scenarios, I also noticed that if I remove the $entry wrapper from the exportStaticMethods(), the opposite occurs. I see the System.outs being called in my java code, however the console logs from the JavaScript in the browser are not being called.

I am trying to figure what is causing the behavior and if there is a small missing piece I overlooked.

I have already reviewed the GWT JSNI documentation for calling a Java method from js and tried to find a solution from other related questions on StackOverflow.

GWT and Java side

I have gone into the onModuleLoad() method of my EntryPoint class and added a static method called exportStaticMethods(). I also created the PokePingClass.java file listed below.

EntryPointClass.java

public class EntryPointClass implements EntryPoint {

    @Override public void onModuleLoad() {
        exportStaticMethods();
        // load application here.
    }

    public static native void exportStaticMethods() /*-{

        $wnd.pingApp = $entry((function) {
                           @com.application.PokePingClass::pingApp()();
                       });

        $wnd.pokeApp = $entry((function) {
                           @com.application.PokePingClass::pokeApp()();
                       });
    }-*/
}

PokePingClass.java

public class PokePingClass {

    public static void pokeApp() {
        System.out.println("pokeApp() called");
    }

    public static void pingApp() {
        System.out.println("pingApp() called");
    }
}

HTML and js

In the .html file of the project, I added a hidden div element of id 'pokePing', as well as the pokeping.js file.

<html>
    <head>
        .
        . <!-- other stuff -->
        .
        <script type='text/javascript' src='pokeping.js</script> 
    </head>

    <body>
        .
        . <!-- other stuff -->
        .
        <div id="pokePing" style="visibility: hidden;"></div>
    </body>
</html>

pokeping.js

$(document).ready(function) {

    var $pp = $('#pokePing');

    var pokeApp = function() {
        console.log("app handling poke event");
        window.parent.pokeApp();
    }

    var pingApp = function() {
        console.log("app handling ping event");
        window.parent.pingApp();
    }

    $pp.trigger('pokeApp');
    $pp.trigger('pingApp');
}

Solution

  • I found a similar post but the key was to actually return the method calls in the JSNI functions. After that, all works well.

    public static native void exportStaticMethods() /*-{
    
        $wnd.pingApp = $entry((function) {
                           return @com.application.PokePingClass::pingApp()();
                       });
    
        $wnd.pokeApp = $entry((function) {
                           return @com.application.PokePingClass::pokeApp()();
                       });
    }-*/