public class CategoryEditor extends PropertyEditorSupport {

    // Converts a String to a Category (when submitting form)
    @Override
    public void setAsText(String text) {
        Category c = new Category(text);
        this.setValue(c);
    }

    // Converts a Category to a String (when displaying form)
    @Override
    public String getAsText() {
        Category c = (Category) this.getValue();
        return c.getName();
    }

}




public class MyController {

    @InitBinder
    public void initBinder(WebDataBinder binder) {
        binder.registerCustomEditor(Category.class, new CategoryEditor());
    }

    ...

}