RichFaces Rich: AutoComplete

RichFaces Rich: AutoComplete is a UI component that allows for auto-completion of data input based on user input. It is a part of the RichFaces library for Java Server Faces (JSF) framework.

Features

Some of the features of RichFaces Rich: AutoComplete include:

• Search-as-you-type: As soon as the user starts typing in the input field, the auto-complete feature makes a call to the data source and displays a list of relevant options. This search-as-you-type feature makes the user experience more seamless and efficient.

• Customizable: The AutoComplete component is highly customizable, allowing developers to change the behavior and appearance of the component to suit specific use cases.

• Supports multiple data sources: The component can work with multiple data sources, including local lists, remote services, and even databases.

Usage

To use RichFaces Rich: AutoComplete in your JSF project, you need to add the necessary dependencies to your project's build configuration. Once the dependencies are in place, you can start adding the component to your pages.

Here's an example of how to use the AutoComplete component:

<rich:autocomplete mode="ajax"
                   value="#{myBean.selectedItem}"
                   autocompleteMethod="#{myBean.findItems}"
                   fetchValue="#{item.label}"
                   minChars="3"/>

In this example, the mode attribute is set to "ajax", which means that the auto-complete feature will make an asynchronous call to the server to retrieve the data.

The value attribute points to the selected item, which will be updated as the user selects an item from the list of suggested options.

The autocompleteMethod attribute points to the method that should be called to retrieve the list of suggested options. This method will be called every time the user types a new character in the input field.

The fetchValue attribute specifies the property of the Item object that should be used as the label for the item in the suggestion list.

The minChars attribute specifies the minimum number of characters that the user needs to type before the auto-complete feature is triggered.

Customization

Developers can customize the behavior and appearance of RichFaces Rich: AutoComplete using CSS, as well as the built-in customization attributes. Some of these attributes include:

• maxSuggestions: Sets the maximum number of items to be displayed in the suggestion list.

• selectFirst: If set to "true", the first item in the suggestion list will automatically be selected when the user starts typing.

• layout: Controls the layout of the auto-complete component, allowing developers to choose between vertical and horizontal layouts.

Conclusion

RichFaces Rich: AutoComplete is a powerful component that can help developers provide a seamless and efficient user experience in their JSF applications. Its ability to work with multiple data sources, and its high level of customization, make it a valuable addition to any UI toolkit.