template theme idea

[Dan Allen <da...@mojavelinux.com>]

I have an idea which I think would help to make struts more flexible
when it comes to "skinning" an application.  I might get shot down
for this, but it makes a lot of sense to be, so here goes.

Currently in struts, the paths in the configuration file (and
taglibs) can follow a forwardPattern and pagePattern which in
turn can currently use two variables, $M for the module directory
and $P for the path value.  I propose to add a third variable named
$T which would be replaced with the "theme name."  The theme can be
specified as an init parameter for the servlet in web.xml and
possibly overridden by a BaseAction if a certain cookie is read in.
It looks as though the best place for the getter/setter would be in
the ActionServlet since it needs to be available to all Actions that
are created.  Better I guess would be to place it in a
THEME_NAME_KEY in the servletContext and then use put the get/set
method in the Action.

Before I make a patch I need to know where one would place this
information in order to modify.  The other issue I forsee is that
using WEB-INF for the jsp pages no longer becomes a viable option
since the path element would be 

/WEB-INF/jsp/example.jsp

doing

$M$T$P

would leave behind (in the default module configuration)

/default/WEB-INF/jsp/example.jsp

...so container security can be used instead.

The only issue I see with this in the taglibs is if you wanted to
include a "common" file to all themes.  Is there already a way to
change the pattern for creating the path in the taglibs...or is the
pattern sticky once it is set?

Dan

-- 
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Daniel Allen, <da...@mojavelinux.com>
http://www.mojavelinux.com/
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"When you're raised by the Jesuits, you become either obedient 
or impertinent" 
 -- Jack McCoy, "Law and Order"
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