How can GWT 2.1 editor framework support primitive types?

Question

I am trying to bind a field of the primitive type "int" to an editor. My editor extends ValueBox<Integer>, since generics in Java can only use object types.

When I compile my application, I get the following error:

00:00:18,915 [ERROR] Found unexpected type int while evauating path "cadastralDivisionCode" using getter expression ""

Changing the getter and the setter to use an Integer object, does the trick. Is there any way to use a primitive type in the GWT 2.1 editor framework?

Sibella

Answer 1

You need to wait for 2.1.1 for primitive types. There is an open bug tracking this.

Thornie

It is not clear that they will implement this in 2.1.1 - that bug only says that they will "clearly define" the behavior with primitives. What seems definite is that they'll make it fail with a more helpful error message. Jan, I think you should wrap your ints with Integers, and not wait for 2.1.1 to address this. – Definitive

That is what we are going to do but it is a pity. A primitive cannot be null and we use that for non-nullable fields. Now we have to add that validation logic. – Sibella

Answer 2

Haven't looked at GWT internals, but most probably it can't be done, because primitive values are not handled by reference and can not be put into Collections.

The only way around is to use equivalent object types, e.g. Integer for int.

Disquietude