Action Methods - linchpins of the request-response cycle

Dynamic elements that can be activated have an action attribute bound to an action() method

WO calls this action() method when the user activates the element, e.g. hyperlink click

An action method returns a component, i.e. a dynamically generated page

User clicks mouse

WO receives a request

WORequest contains the identity of the element the use clicked

Component receives an awake()

it receives an invokeAction(name of dynamic element) message

it executes the action() method bound to it's action attribute

value returned by action() is the response component

return = null

request component generates the response

return = a different component

different component will generate the response

Page updated August 17, 2004