Jmix LocalizedString Datatype

This add-on provides a custom Datatype, sorting support, Bean Validation constraints, and a related action for the ValuePicker component for storing and editing localized string values.

The value displayed in visual components depends on the user's current locale.

Installation

The following table shows which version of the add-on is compatible with which version of the platform:

Jmix Version	Add-on Version	Implementation
2.3.0+	1.0.0	com.glebfox.jmix.locstr:jmix-localized-string-datatype-starter:1.0.0
2.8.0+	1.1.0	com.glebfox.jmix.locstr:jmix-localized-string-datatype-starter:1.1.0

For manual installation, add the following dependency to your build.gradle:

implementation 'com.glebfox.jmix.locstr:jmix-localized-string-datatype-starter:<addon-version>'

Using the Add-on

The LocalizedString datatype is represented by three classes:

• LocalizedString.java - custom Java class used as a type of entity attributes.
• LocalizedStringDatatype.java - a Datatype implementation class for LocalizedString.
• LocalizedStringConverter.java - a class that converts entity attribute state into database column representation and back again.

You can define an entity attribute with the LocalizedString datatype using Studio. For example:

As a result, Studio generates the following attribute definition:

@Column(name = "NAME", nullable = false)
private LocalizedString name;

To edit a localized value, add an action with type="value_localizedStringEdit" to the ValuePicker component. For example:

<valuePicker id="nameField" property="name">
    <actions>
        <action id="localizedStringEdit" type="value_localizedStringEdit"/>
        <action id="clear" type="value_clear"/>
    </actions>
</valuePicker>

NOTE: The actual value stored in the database is a JSON string. For example: {"en":"Keyboard","ru_RU":"Клавиатура"}

Sorting

Sorting by LocalizedString attributes is supported. The add-on sorts by the value for the user's current locale. If a LocalizedString does not contain a value for the current locale, an empty string is used for sorting.

This works for database-backed sorting and for in-memory sorting in Flow UI data containers.

HSQLDB

HSQLDB has a database-level limitation: it cannot apply the locale-specific sorting expression to CLOB columns. For HSQLDB, the add-on falls back to sorting the raw JSON string stored in the column. As a result, database-level sorting order may differ from the order for the user's current locale. In-memory sorting still uses the value for the user's current locale.

Sorting Configuration

The add-on registers global Jmix sorting customizations by default. If an application provides its own JpqlSortExpressionProvider or SorterFactory, these customizations can be disabled:

jmix.locstr.sorting.database.enabled=false
jmix.locstr.sorting.in-memory.enabled=false

LocalizedStringEditAction

The value_localizedStringEdit action is represented by LocalizedStringEditAction.java and opens a dialog that edits a localized string value represented by the LocalizedString datatype.

Properties

• multiline - sets whether to use a multi-line text input component. TextArea is used for multi-line text input, TextField otherwise. If the property is not set explicitly and the entity attribute is annotated with @Lob, multi-line text input is used. For example:

@Lob
@Column(name = "DESCRIPTION")
private LocalizedString description;

• checkForUnsavedChanges - sets whether this action should prevent the closing of the edit dialog if there are unsaved changes. true by default.

• width - sets the width of the edit dialog. Default width is var(--localized-string-editor-width, 30em)

• minWidth - sets the min-width of the edit dialog.

• maxWidth - sets the max-width of the edit dialog.

• height - sets the height of the edit dialog.

• minHeight - sets the min-height of the edit dialog.

• maxHeight - sets the max-height of the edit dialog.

• className - sets the CSS class name of the edit dialog. This method overwrites any previous set class names. localized-string-editor is set by default.

• multilineFieldHeight - sets the height of the multi-line text input component if used. Default height is var(--localized-string-editor-multiline-field-height, 6.5em).

• multilineFieldMinHeight - sets the min-height of the multi-line text input component if used.

• multilineFieldMaxHeight - sets the max-height of the multi-line text input component if used.

• saveText - sets Save button text.

• saveIcon - sets the given component as the icon of Save button.

• saveButtonTheme - sets the theme names of Save button. This method overwrites any previous set theme names.

• cancelText - sets Cancel button text.

• cancelIcon - sets the given component as the icon of Cancel button.

• cancelButtonTheme - sets the theme names of Cancel button. This method overwrites any previous set theme names.

Validation

If the target ValuePicker of LocalizedStringEditAction is bound to a required entity attribute, then the edit fields also become required:

The add-on provides Bean Validation annotations for LocalizedString attributes:

• @LocalizedStringSize checks that every localized value length is between min and max. A null LocalizedString is valid.
• @LocalizedStringLength checks that every localized value length is between min and max. A null LocalizedString is valid.
• @LocalizedStringPattern checks that every localized value matches regexp. A null LocalizedString is valid.
• @LocalizedStringNotNull checks that a non-null localized value is stored for every configured application locale.
• @LocalizedStringNotEmpty checks that every localized value is not empty. A null LocalizedString and an empty set of localized values are invalid.
• @LocalizedStringNotBlank checks that every localized value contains at least one non-whitespace character. A null LocalizedString and an empty set of localized values are invalid.

For example:

@LocalizedStringNotBlank
@LocalizedStringSize(max = 100)
@Column(name = "NAME")
private LocalizedString name;

When the edit dialog is used for an entity attribute, these constraints are applied to each locale field separately. Standard @NotNull can still be used for the attribute itself when only the LocalizedString object reference should be checked.

Additionally, you can add a validator that checks the value of every field in the edit dialog. For example:

@Install(to = "descriptionField.localizedStringEdit", subject = "validator")
private void descriptionFieldValidator(final ValidationContext validationContext) {
    String value = validationContext.value();
    if (value != null && value.length() < 5) {
        throw new ValidationException("Must be at least 5 characters");
    }
}

Field Provider

It's possible to change edit fields by setting the field provider, which will return a component for a given FieldGenerationContext. For example:

@Install(to = "descriptionField.localizedStringEdit", subject = "fieldProvider")
private HasValueAndElement<?, String> descriptionFieldFieldProvider(final FieldGenerationContext context) {
    RichTextEditor richTextEditor = uiComponents.create(RichTextEditor.class);
    richTextEditor.addThemeVariants(RichTextEditorVariant.COMPACT);
    return richTextEditor;
}

Limitations

Since the actual value stored in the database is a JSON string (CLOB), the following Jmix functionalities do not work with LocalizedString:

• GenericFilter and PropertyFilter components.

License

Code is under the Apache Licence 2.0.