JSF 2.1 Tip of the Day: RichFaces 4.3.x Drag and Drop

Multiple DnD Targets

The Primefaces version of my drag-n-drop (DnD) for JSF has been very popular. I didn't want my friends at Red Hat feeling left out. I did a couple of examples using drag-n-drop with the same arrow demo as the Primefaces example: JSF 2.1.x Tip of the Day: Primefaces 3.5 <p:ring/> Drag-N-Drop Example.

I did have a little more fun with using Java to clone some of the arrows so that you could see how to use them multiple times.

Requirements

• Mojarra 2.1.20
• richfaces-core-api 4.3.1.Final
• richfaces-core-impl 4.3.1.Final
• richfaces-components-api 4.3.1.Final
• richfaces-components-ui 4.3.1.Final

Details

The project was developed using NetBeans 7.3 and Apache Maven. The Mercurial project can be found on BitBucket here: richfaces-dnd-examples

Code

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Patterns for Scaling Mercurial and Git

I just finished reading over the Refcard Git Patterns and Anti-PatternsScaling from Workgroup to Enterprise by Luca Milanesio from GerritForge. He has done a great job describing patterns and anti-patterns that don't just apply to Git, but any distributed source control system. The obvious focus of this Refcard is Git, but the patterns are essentially the same sans the commands.

I thought that the card was well done, and is a nice and easy read.

JSF 2.1.x Tip of the Day: Primefaces 3.5 <p:ring/> Drag-N-Drop Example

Camp Old Indian

I was trying to come up with an example to demonstrate <p:ring /> along with Drag-and-Drop (DnD). I had an idea of using a target to drop things on. I was sitting in my living room watching my youngest son creating a world on little big planet, and I remembered his first time shooting a bow. He had a perfect bullseye.

I decided that I would drag-n-drop arrows in honor of my son. I mentioned the idea to him, and he loved it. So here it is... a useful example that was fun to create. In this example, I will demonstrate the <p:ring />, and <p:fieldSet /> components primarily. I have added some effects to a <p:dialog /> if you select an arrow and dismiss it.

Requirements

• PrimeFaces 3.5
• Mojarra 2.1.20

I used NetBeans 7.3 to develop the Apache Maven based project. The Mercurial project can be found on BitBucket here: primefaces-ring-dnd.

Example

index.xhtml

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IndexBean.java

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Arrow.java

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Conclusion

This is a very simple example of what you can do with a Primefaces, Mojarra, and Netbeans.

Arrow Ring and Target

Installing Mercurial 2.5.2 on IIS 7.5 and Python 2.7 64-bit

I have been given a great opportunity to move our current source control system from ClearCase to Mercurial. This includes using Active Directory for authentication and authorization. There are a number of great blog posts which helped me along the way. Please see the References at the bottom of the blog. However, I found that none of them were complete, or used older versions of the software.

Prerequisites

• Microsoft Windows 2008 Server R2, or Microsoft Windows 7
  Note: If you are using Active Directory, the server must be a part of the domain.
• Internet Information Server (IIS) 7.5
• Python 2.7.3 (X86-64)
• Mercurial 2.5.2 (X86-64)

Installation Process

Install Python

Download and install Python 2.7.3 X86-64 using the installer.

Install Mercurial

Download and install Mercurial 2.5.2 (X86-64) for use with Python 2.7.

Note: Do not install TortoiseHg. It is not required, and these directions will not work.

Install Internet Information Server (IIS)

Using the Server Manager on Windows 2008 Server R2, you need to add a role to install IIS. It is not as intuitive as it should be. On other versions of Windows, you would add it as a service.

1. Add a Server Role.
   
2. Select IIS Role.
   
3. Select Role Services.
   
   • Application Development
     
     • CGI
     • ISAPI Extensions
     • ISAPI Filters
   • Security
     
     • Basic Authentication
     • Windows Authentication
     • Request Filtering
   
4. Installation Complete
   

Install and Configure CGI (hgweb.cgi)

1. Clone the mercurial repository, and copy the hgweb.cgi application to located in the project root to C:\Python27\Lib\site-packages\mercurial\hgweb.

   hg clone http://selenic.com/repo/hg
   

2. Create a hgweb.config in C:\Python27\Lib\site-packages\mercurial\hgweb. Here is an example file:
   

   [web]
   encoding = UTF-8
   allow_push = *
   push_ssl = False
   contact = John Yeary
   allowzip = True
   
   [paths]
   test = C:\repos\test
   

3. Modify the hgweb.cgi file to use the new configuration.
   

   #!/usr/bin/env python
   #
   # An example hgweb CGI script, edit as necessary
   # See also https://www.mercurial-scm.org/wiki/PublishingRepositories
   
   # Path to repo or hgweb config to serve (see 'hg help hgweb')
   config = "hgweb.config"
   
   
   # Uncomment and adjust if Mercurial is not installed system-wide
   # (consult "installed modules" path from 'hg debuginstall'):
   #import sys; sys.path.insert(0, "/path/to/python/lib")
   
   # Uncomment to send python tracebacks to the browser if an error occurs:
   #import cgitb; cgitb.enable()
   
   from mercurial import demandimport; demandimport.enable()
   from mercurial.hgweb import hgweb, wsgicgi
   application = hgweb(config)
   wsgicgi.launch(application)
   

Setup IIS Python CGI Handler

1. Add a Virtual Directory to the Default Web Site
   
   • Alias: hg
   • Physical Path: C:\Python27\Lib\site-packages\mercurial\hgweb
   
2. Select Handler Mapping from the newly created hg virtual directory.
3. Click Actions --> Add Script Map
4. Set the following parameters:
   
   • Request Path: *.cgi
   • Executable: C:\Python27\python.exe -u "%s"
   • Name: Python
   
5. Restart IIS Server

Create Mercurial Test Repository

c:\>mkdir repos

c:\>cd repos

c:\repos>mkdir test

c:\repos>cd test

c:\repos\test>hg init

c:\repos\test>echo "THIS IS A TEST FILE" > README

c:\repos\test>hg add README

c:\repos\test>hg commit -u jyeary -m "Initial Import"

c:\repos\test>hg summary
parent: 0:d5c9f65c740a tip
 Initial Import
branch: default
commit: (clean)
update: (current)

Test Configuration

Using a browser, go to http://localhost/hg/hgweb.cgi. You should see the following:

Here is the changeset for the initial import

URL Rewrite (OPTIONAL)

If you want a cleaner URL for users, you will want to "prettify" your URLs. Luckily, Microsoft has a URL Rewrite plugin for IIS. You will want to install it from the link provided.
Here is the configuration for our application:

1. Select URL Rewrite from the hg virtual directory.
2. Create a new blank rule.
   
3. Create a Rule with the following parameters:
   
   • Name: hgweb.cgi
   • Match URL:
     
     • Using: Wildcards
     • Pattern: *
   • Conditions
     
     • Add Condition
     • Condition Input: {REQUEST_FILENAME}
     • Check if input string: Is Not A File
     
   • Action
     
     • Action Type: Rewrite
     • Rewrite URL: hgweb.cgi/{R:1}
   
4. Apply Changes
5. Modify the hgweb.config and add the baseurl attribute.
   

   [web]
   encoding = UTF-8
   baseurl= /hg
   allow_push = *
   push_ssl = False
   contact = John Yeary
   allowzip = True
   
   [paths]
   test = C:\repos\test
   

The URL should be much easier now http://localhost/hg/test/

Basic Authentication (Active Directory> for push (OPTIONAL)

The default setup from the hgweb.config allows push from all clients. If we want to add more security, we need to specify authentication, and who is allowed to push.

Note: Basic Authentication passes username and password in clear text. You should use Basic Authentication in conjunction with SSL.

In the default configuration provided, you can push back any changes as shown below.

C:\Users\jyeary\Desktop>hg clone http://localhost/hg/test
destination directory: test
requesting all changes
adding changesets
adding manifests
adding file changes
added 1 changesets with 1 changes to 1 files
updating to branch default
1 files updated, 0 files merged, 0 files removed, 0 files unresolved

C:\Users\jyeary\Desktop>cd test

C:\Users\jyeary\Desktop\test>ls
README

C:\Users\jyeary\Desktop\test>touch FILE1

C:\Users\jyeary\Desktop\test>touch FILE2

C:\Users\jyeary\Desktop\test>hg add FILE1

C:\Users\jyeary\Desktop\test>hg add FILE2

C:\Users\jyeary\Desktop\test>hg commit -u jyeary -m "Added files."

C:\Users\jyeary\Desktop\test>hg push
pushing to http://localhost/hg/test
searching for changes
remote: adding changesets
remote: adding manifests
remote: adding file changes
remote: added 1 changesets with 2 changes to 2 files

We will configure our application and the server to use authentication.

1. Select the hg virtual directory.
2. Select Authentication
   
3. Select Basic Authentication and Enable it.
   
4. Edit the settings for your Active Directory (AD) domain.
   
   • Domain: THIS IS YOUR AD DOMAIN
   • Realm: You can call this anything that you like, I personally use the domain name.
   
5. You have set up the authentication, but it still will allow you to push files as demonstrated below.
   

   C:\Users\jyeary\Desktop\test>touch FILE3
   
   C:\Users\jyeary\Desktop\test>hg add FILE3
   
   C:\Users\jyeary\Desktop\test>hg commit -u jyeary -m "Added FILE3"
   
   C:\Users\jyeary\Desktop\test>hg push
   pushing to http://localhost/hg/test
   searching for changes
   remote: adding changesets
   remote: adding manifests
   remote: adding file changes
   remote: added 1 changesets with 1 changes to 1 files
   

6. To enable push to require authentication, we need to modify the hgweb.config file. We will modify allow_push = *, and set it to allow push from only certain individuals.
   

   [web]
   encoding = UTF-8
   baseurl= /hg
   allow_push = jyeary
   push_ssl = False
   contact = John Yeary
   allowzip = True
   
   [paths]
   test = C:\repos\test
   

   
   Since we have set push to accept only jyeary, it will ask us to authenticate and shown below.
   

   C:\Users\jyeary\Desktop\test>touch FILE4
   
   C:\Users\jyeary\Desktop\test>hg add FILE4
   
   C:\Users\jyeary\Desktop\test>hg commit -u jyeary -m "Added FILE4"
   
   C:\Users\jyeary\Desktop\test>hg push
   pushing to http://localhost/hg/test
   searching for changes
   http authorization required
   realm: mydomain.com
   user: jyeary
   password:
   remote: adding changesets
   remote: adding manifests
   remote: adding file changes
   remote: added 1 changesets with 1 changes to 1 files
   

Enable SSL (OPTIONAL)

I am indicating that this is optional, but if you are using Basic Authentication; it really should be required. This shows how to create a simple self-signed certificate. In a production environment, you will want to have a certificate signed by Certification Authoritity (CA).

1. Select the server, and select Server Certificates.
   
2. Create a self-signed certificate.
   
   
3. Right-click on the Default Web Site, and select Edit Bindings.
4. Select Add a Binding
5. Add an SSL binding as follows:
   
   • Type: https
   • Port: 443
   • SSL Certificate: selfSigned
6. Modify the hgweb.config file, and remove the push_ssl = False line.
7. Test the new configuration by cloning the secured repository
   Note: Unless you add the certificate fingerprint to your hgrc, you will need to use the --insecure flag with mercurial.
   

   C:\Users\jyeary\Desktop>hg clone --insecure https://localhost/hg/test
   warning: localhost certificate with fingerprint e5:32:64:97:6e:10:43:e5:c7:71:92:9f:08:20:e9:4d:54:d6:c3:04 not verified (check hostfingerprints or web.cacerts config setting)
   
   destination directory: test
   requesting all changes
   adding changesets
   adding manifests
   adding file changes
   added 4 changesets with 5 changes to 5 files
   warning: localhost certificate with fingerprint e5:32:64:97:6e:10:43:e5:c7:71:92:9f:08:20:e9:4d:54:d6:c3:04 not verified (check hostfingerprints or web.cacerts config setting)
   
   updating to branch default
   5 files updated, 0 files merged, 0 files removed, 0 files unresolved
   

Conclusion

Setting up Mercurial is easy to do in a Windows environment. You will gain all of the great benefits from Mercurial along with active directory. It is much easier to setup Mercurial on IIS for use with Active Directory than on a LAMP stack with winbind, or LDAP. If AD is a requirement... this is definitely the solution.

References

• Configuring HgWeb in IIS on Windows
• Setting up a Mercurial server under IIS7 on Windows Server 2008 R2 - I must give credit here. My post is based primarily off of this really good work.
• CA Certificates - 5. Manually bypassing security checks on self-signed certificates

JSF Tip of the Day: PrimeFaces 3.0 Tree Drag and Drop Example

I worked on a proof of concept for a drag and drop enabled <p:tree /> for a project I was working on. At the time, PrimeFaces was just starting the path to 3.0, and I was working with a snapshot. The POC was part of a decision making process on which JSF framework, or combination of frameworks to use.

This drag and drop example was part of the the work Optimus Prime and his team created as a potential functionality for the <p:tree /> component. In the final release, this functionality was removed. I still have high hopes that in PrimeFaces 3.5.+ that it will be added back into the product. It was a cool idea and one that we had hoped to take advantage of in our products.

If you need this functionality currently, and don't mind using a 3.0-SNAPSHOT release, you can have a drag and drop <p:tree />. I published this since it was a good example, and I thought someone might need this specific functionality. Otherwise it is code lost in time.

The Mercurial project can be pulled from BitBucket and was developed using NetBeans and Apache Maven.

The code can be found here: primefaces-tree-dragdrop-demo

Example

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JSF 2.x Tip of the Day: What is <h:link /> and Why Do I Care?

One of the JSF Components that is new in JSF 2.1 is the <h:link /> component. This component represents an HTML <a /> (anchor) tag. In most cases, I would actually recommend using an <a /> tag over this component. The anchor tag can use Expression Language (EL) which is what most people are after. The <h:link /> is more overkill than most people need. However, there are a couple of cases where the <h:link /> really does shine.

1. disabled="true" attribute renders a <span /> that can serve as a space holder.
2. The rendered attribute can be programmatically controlled using EL, or via binding of the component. You don't need to use JS, or a JS Framework like jquery to hide it. It simply does not render.
3. The component can be programatically created using a binding <h:link binding="#{bean.link}" />.
4. Built-in support for JSF navigation using the outcome attribute.
5. Supports passing JSF ViewParameters through the use of the includeviewParams attribute.

The real significant disadvantage is that you can't use it like a normal anchor tag and direct the href to another site without some tricks. In that case you are better off using a <h:commandLink/> or a plain <a/> tag.

References

• HTML Anchor Element
• JSF 2.1 <h:link /> VDL

Examples

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Project Files

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Here is the NetBeans 7.3 Maven Project: jsf-link-example

Java 6 File Monitoring Example

I was asked today how you would monitor a file for changes using Java 6. Since Java 7 has added some great File handling features that I use, it was a reminder that not everyone is so lucky to use Java 7. I remembered an example from Geosoft (I remembered it because I liked the name). I went looking and I found their example code FileMonitor.java. It is a simple and elegant solution to monitoring files and directories for changes.

This is by no means a complete example, but does show a simple technique.