struts select tag with values of a array list

Question

I am developing a simple struts application. In my JSP I have a dropdown list box (using s:select tag). I need to fill the values with a arraylist values in the action class. How can I do that? what changes needed in the structs.xml file for complete this?

JSP:

<s:select name="department" label="" list="departmentlist"  headerKey="-1" headerValue="Select Department">

Action class:

private List<String> departmentlist = new ArrayList<String>();

public String xyz()
{
    departmentlist.add("aaa");
    departmentlist.add("bbb");
    departmentlist.add("ccc");
    departmentlist.add("ddd");
    return "success";
}

Answer 1

The error

"The requested list key 'departmentlist' could not be resolved as a collection/array/map/enumeration/iterator type. Example: people or people.{name} - [unknown location] "

means that the select tag is not able to resolve departmentlist as a collection. It is an OGNL expression which is trying to find the departmentlist in the value stack and if it not found or contains a null reference the select tag will complain. When you render the select tag make sure the list is in the value stack and is initialized. See the example here.

Answer 2

Try to add get and set method for our field departmentlist,in your class Exple : in your class controller put this method for your field departmentlist :

public  List<String> getDepartmentlist(){
  return this.departmentlist();
}

public void setDepartmentlist(List<String> departmentlist){
  return this.departmentlist = departmentlist;
}