Any way to disable/sidestep converters/validators while processing a ActionListener event?

["Senior Consultants Inc." <se...@gmail.com>]

Hello:

We would like to be able to handle the ActionListener event without
converters
and validators (associated with fields on the form) generating error
messages.
When the form is submitted, we do want the field converters and validators
to
generate appropriate error messages.  Is there a way to disable/sidestep
converters and validators while processing an ActionListener event?  Further
details are provided below.

The situation:
--------------
1. Have a date input field
2. Have a link next to the input field that is used to set a default value
in the date field.
   An ActionListener is associated with the link.
3. When the link is clicked, the form is posted and the ActionListener
method is invoked.  This
   method sets and default value in the date field and returns.
4. Since it is an ActionListener event, JSP redisplays the same page.


Problem:
--------
1. If an illegal date format has been entered into the date field before
clicking the link,
   the converter on the date field detects an error.  JSF redisplays the
page with the
   error message.
2. Even if the date field is empty or has a legal value, other fields on the
form can have
   bad values such that their converter or validator will detect an error.
Again, JSP
   redisplays the page with the error message.


UI Goal:  Have the link set the default value and ignore any illegal fields
on the form.
-------   At this point in time, the user in interested in defaulting the
date field, not
          validating fields.  The fields will be validated when the form is
submitted.


Current Solution:
-----------------
1. The link has: immediate="true" set.
2. ActionListener associated with link runs early in the JSF lifecycle. This
method
   accesses the component and sets the date value by calling
<component>.setSubmittedValue()
3  ActionListener method then terminates JSF lifecyle
4. JSF redisplays page.  Since the date component's submitted value has been
modified, the
   default value now appears in the date field.


Why We are Looking for a Better Solution:
-----------------------------------------
We have other situations where the ActionListener method needs access to
several fields
on the form. These fields are currently not available to the ActionListener
since it is
invoked early in the JSF lifecycle.
If the converters/validators could be disabled, the ActionListener method
could run
at the normal place in the JSF lifecycle.  It is understood that JSF could
not do the data
binding for any fields where the converter fails.  But all other fields
would be properly
bound and accessible to the AtionListener method.


Thanks for your time.

Jay