jsf - Bind h:selectBooleanCheckbox value to int/Integer instead of boolean/Boolean

Question

I have a <h:selectBooleanCheckbox value="#{someBean.prop}"> where prop is a property of type int. Is it really not working straight away? Do I have to implement a custom converter to convert Boolean to int? Does anyone happen to have converter code for that at stock? I read that there is some bug in JSF 2.0 that prevents converters for <h:selectBooleanCheckbox> to be processed. Can anyone confirm that?

I use MyFaces 2, Tomahawk and Tomcat 6.

Answer 1

The <h:selectBooleanCheckbox> should, as its name say, be bound to a boolean or Boolean property. Nothing else. That it allows a converter attribute is actually a bug in the spec. It should never have allowed it.

The problem is more in your model, why would you use an int to represent a boolean state? Change your model to let it be a fullworthy boolean.

If changing the model isn't an option for some reason (a 3rd party API, a stupid architect, or stupid business restrictions, etc), then wrap the model getter/setter in the backing bean like follows

public boolean isChecked() {
    return someModel.getSomeInt() != 0;
}

public void setChecked(boolean checked) {
    someModel.setSomeInt(checked ? 1 : 0);
}

and use it instead as <h:selectBooleanCheckbox value="#{bean.checked}" />.