List-Of-Values Component in Search and Edit Form

Sample application described in this post contains high practical value, it implements real use case. Defined use case - based on value selected in List-Of-Values (LOV) component, perform query in database and display results in form. Form with results is updated, when value in LOV is changed.

You can download developed application - LOVSearchEdit.zip and run it in JDeveloper 11g TP3, additionally you need to have Oracle XE database with HR schema.

Model part of sample application contains Locations Entity object and two View objects - LocationsView and CountriesLovView. First View object is based on Entity object and second View object is read-only, is used in LOV component.


View object - LocationsView is used to query database and return results displayed in form. In other words, this View object perform Search action. LocationsView contains WHERE clause with bind variable, it retrieves Locations by specified Country Id:


In View layer of our application, Search action is initialized by LOV component for Countries. I have created this LOV component as unbounded and not related to Model. I achieved this, by declaring countryIdVar variable in Page Definition, and using this variable as Base Data Source for LOV component.


You can create unbounded LOV component in JSPX page, by dropping empty af:inputListOfValues from ADF Faces Common Components palette. As next step, right-click on newly created component and select from menu - Bind to ADF Control. In Edit List Binding dialog you should choose variables as Base Data Source and in List Data Source choose View object that you want to use as list data provider. For example, in my application this dialog looks like this:


To execute Search action, I'm using ExecuteWithParams action defined in Page Definition and associated with LocationView. Input parameter for bind variable is retrieved directly from attribute wired with LOV component Base Data Source variable.


Defined ExecuteWithParams action is invoked from countryIdReturnPopupListener created for Countries LOV:


And finally last step, in order to refresh form with displayed Search results, you need to put AutoSubmit=true for Countries LOV component. And change PartialTriggers property of form with results to point to Countries LOV Id.

And yes, all this stuff really works. When page is opened and there still no value in LOV is selected, empty form is not displayed:


Let's select any value in LOV component:


Search results are retrieved and form with data is opened. User can navigate through results and update locations from selected country: