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Create Struts 2 - Hello World Application

6 November 2008 287 views 22 Comments

Recently I’ve started learning the Struts 2 framework. Though I’ve been using Struts 1.3 for quite some time, understanding Struts 2 was little tricky as the ‘Hello World sample application’ provided by Struts 2 site is little confusing. So, I was searching for a simple ‘Hello world example for Struts 2′ and after going through many different sites, finally I was able to run my first Struts 2 application. Here are the steps that I did to start with Struts 2. I am using Eclipse IDE and all the steps explained below are in referring to Eclispe 3 IDE.

Struts 2 Hello World Application - Getting started with Struts 2

  1. Create New → Project → Dynamic Web Project and give a name to your project and the location to save your project. For this example, I gave HelloWorld as my project name.
  2. Second step will be including JAR files required by Struts 2 framework to our project’s WEB-INF/lib folder. You can either download below JARs separately or simple copy them from the lib folder of struts2-blank-application provided by Struts 2 website. Note that the version numbers in the JAR files are the latest ones when this article written. You may use the latest JARs if they are available.
    • commons-logging-1.0.4.jar
    • freemarker-2.3.8.jar
    • ognl-2.6.11.jar
    • struts2-core-2.0.11.jar
    • xwork-2.0.4.jar
  3. Next step will be configuring struts 2 filter in web.xml file. Have a look at the below sample configuration.
    <?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
    <web-app id="WebApp_9" version="2.4" xmlns="http://java.sun.com/xml/ns/j2ee" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance" xsi:schemaLocation="http://java.sun.com/xml/ns/j2ee http://java.sun.com/xml/ns/j2ee/web-app_2_4.xsd">

        <display-name>Struts 2 : Hello World</display-name>

        <filter>
            <filter-name>struts2</filter-name>
            <filter-class>org.apache.struts2.dispatcher.FilterDispatcher</filter-class>
        </filter>

        <filter-mapping>
            <filter-name>struts2</filter-name>
            <url-pattern>/*</url-pattern>
        </filter-mapping>

    </web-app>
     

  4. Now we will create a struts action class HelloWorld.java. To do this, create a new package tutorial under the project’s source folder and inside the tutorial package, create a new class file and name it HelloWorld.java. Below is the source code for this class file.
    package tutorial;

    import com.opensymphony.xwork2.ActionSupport;

    public class HelloWorld extends ActionSupport {

        private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;
       
        private String message;
       
        public String execute()
        {
            setMessage("Hi there! This is a warm hello from Struts 2");
            return SUCCESS;
        }

        public String getMessage() {
            return message;
        }

        public void setMessage(String message) {
            this.message = message;
        }

    }
     

  5. Notice that above class extends ActionSupport and it implements the execute() method. As per Struts 2, any class which does these two things are considered as Struts action classes.
  6. We have our action class is ready. Now it’s the time to create the presentation page, i.e JSP. Create a new JSP file HelloWorld.jsp inside the WebContent folder and type in below code in this JSP file.
    <%@ page contentType="text/html; charset=UTF-8" %>
    <%@ taglib prefix="s" uri="/struts-tags" %>
    <html>
    <head>
        <title>Struts 2 - Hello World tutorial</title>
    </head>

    <body>
    <h2><s:property value="message"/></h2>
    If you can see above message, Congrats! You have successfully created your first Struts 2 application.
    </body>
    </html>
     

  7. Now we will create the very important struts.xml file which glues our action class with the presentation JSP file. Since Struts 2 requires struts.xml to be present in classes folder, we will create stuts.xml file inside the source folder, so that when building the WAR file, struts.xml will be put in classes folder. Below is the code for struts.xml file.
    <?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8" ?>
    <!DOCTYPE struts PUBLIC
           "-//Apache Software Foundation//DTD Struts Configuration 2.0//EN"
           "http://struts.apache.org/dtds/struts-2.0.dtd">

    <struts>
        <constant name="struts.enable.DynamicMethodInvocation"
            value="false" />
        <constant name="struts.devMode" value="false" />
        <package name="tutorial" namespace="/" extends="struts-default">

            <action name="HelloWorld" class="tutorial.HelloWorld">
                <result>/HelloWorld.jsp</result>
            </action>

        </package>
    </struts>
     

  8. We are just one step behind in seeing our application in action. After doing all the above steps, finally the project workspace will looks something like this.

    struts-2-folder-structure
  9. Now we are good to go. Right click on the project name and click Export → WAR File. Then deploy this WAR in the Tomcat’s webapps directory. Now start Tomcat server and point your browser to the URL http://localhost:8080/HelloWorld/HelloWorld.action and Tada! Your first struts 2 application is delivering the JSP page with a hello message to you!!

So, that’s it. Now the Hello World application is done using this latest Struts framework.

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22 Comments »

  • Amit Pandey said:

    Excellent starting point buddy. You are right, existing examples are pretty confusing. Your article is simple, precise. Thanks

    # 17 November 2008 at 2:39 pm
  • Veerasundar (author) said:

    Thanks Amit!

    # 17 November 2008 at 3:43 pm
  • priya said:

    Thanks a lot!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    was very useful………….. :)

    # 2 December 2008 at 5:32 am
  • Veerasundar (author) said:

    You are welcome, Priya!

    # 2 December 2008 at 5:35 am
  • Neena said:

    Thanks Veerasundar. This was very helpful

    # 2 December 2008 at 7:12 am
  • Veerasundar (author) said:

    ///Thanks Veerasundar. This was very helpful//

    Thanks Neena!

    # 2 December 2008 at 8:56 am
  • Atul Mishra said:

    I tried this Sample code in following Config.
    Eclipse, tomcat 5.0, jre 1.5

    I deployed this sample application WAR file into tomcat.
    I have tried to launch this by typing its url as
    http://localhost:8080/HelloWorld

    but it was showing Error as below -

    type Status report

    message /HelloWorld/WEB-INF/web.xml

    description The requested resource (/HelloWorld/WEB-INF/web.xml) is not available.

    # 8 December 2008 at 1:19 pm
  • Veerasundar (author) said:

    Hi Atul,

    The error you got is possibly because of (as the error message says) the web.xml may not be present in the WAR file that you had deployed. Can you please check your WAR file to see whether the web.xml present inside the WEB-INF folder?

    # 8 December 2008 at 1:59 pm
  • Atul said:

    Yes this war files contents web.xml.
    i tried this example 3 - 4 time from scratch.
    but each time i get same error.
    Actually i put struts.xml file into WEB-INF folder.
    but i seen in some example it is with scr files.
    after that i tried this also but i get an error :-
    resource is not available.
    wht should i do.

    i think some libraries are required in tomcat to read and convert these xml files.

    # 10 December 2008 at 10:54 am
  • Mahesh said:

    Thanks Veer, I am able to run my fist struts 2 application. That was an excellent starting point.

    # 10 December 2008 at 12:31 pm
  • Veerasundar (author) said:

    Atul,

    Open the Manager console in Apache Tomcat server and see the status of the struts application. If it is false, then the web application is not deployed correctly and some problem with the application WAR itself. If it is the error with any Java files, then the IDE would have shown at the compilation time itself, but if there is any error with web.xml or struts.xml, then IDE won’t show any errors, but application won’t be deployed in Tomcat. Please check if there is any syntax error with xml files.

    # 10 December 2008 at 3:06 pm
  • veerasundark (author) said:

    Hi Mahesh,

    Thanks for your feedback. :)

    # 12 December 2008 at 4:17 pm
  • Anoop said:

    thanx man,

    # 16 December 2008 at 1:24 pm
  • lakshman said:

    i need some help form u. i normally tried ur application
    1)i created the HelloWorld folder
    in that i created src folder and WEB-INF folder and Helloworld.jsp placed in same folder

    and then
    2) in WEB-INF folder i placed web.xml and lib and i placed all neccessary jar files.

    3) in src folder i placed the HelloWorld.java and struts.xml

    i run the appl it showing 404 status error . i am running the appl in tomcat5.5 and i checked the web.xml and struts.xml it shows correctly .where i gettong the probelm i don’t no..
    Normally in struts1.1 we placed the strut.xml placed parallel to web.xml . here we have to place in src folder i dont know just i am asking.

    in previous u told that checked in tomcat manager i checked there it showing false but i checked all directory twice but it showing error. even i compile i try to compile to java file it shows error ActionSupport .

    i hope u understood my probelm. i hoping positive response from u.

    Thanks
    Lakshman

    # 29 December 2008 at 3:22 pm
  • Arti said:

    Hi,
    I have tried deploying your application exactly the way you have told but when I run it using Tomcat6.0.I am getting HTTP error saying HelloWorld.action resource not found.I checked struts.xml and web.xml again.It seems to be fine.My folder strusture is exactly the same as u have shown in ur UI view.Could you please tell me what exactly is the problem?Even if I try to just run HelloWrold.jsp it sayd HelloWorld.jsp not available.I’ll be thankful if you could help me.

    Arti

    # 30 December 2008 at 8:34 am
  • Veerasundar (author) said:

    Hi Lakshman, Arti

    I couldn’t able to figure out the issue from your questions. Anyhow, please check the below points once again, just to make sure that everything is fine.

    1. Check the placement of struts.xml. In Sturuts2 its placed inside the “source” folder.
    2. Check the action declaration in struts.xml file.
    3. Check if the “struts2″ filter and filter mapping defined correctly in “web.xml” file.

    As said, I can’t figure out the exact issue just by looking at your questions. So, if possible, can you please send your files to my email id (available in the contact page), so that I can have a look at it and get back to you?

    # 30 December 2008 at 9:29 am
  • ganesh adiga said:

    HTTP Status 404 - /HelloWorld/HelloWorld.action

    ——————————————————————————–

    type Status report

    message /HelloWorld/HelloWorld.action

    description The requested resource (/HelloWorld/HelloWorld.action) is not available.

    ——————————————————————————–

    Apache Tomcat/5.5.17

    i am getting this error page. could you please tell me why it is happing so.

    # 30 December 2008 at 11:06 am
  • Hansi said:

    Thanks, works good (if you stick to the names… ;-).

    BR,
    Hansi

    # 31 December 2008 at 12:42 pm
  • lakshman said:

    Hi shankar

    i posted my application but i didn’t get the Response form u. when the Run the Application in server console i getting the following error .

    pr 2, 2009 10:48:54 AM org.apache.catalina.core.AprLifecycleListener lifecycleEvent
    INFO: The Apache Tomcat Native library which allows optimal performance in production environments was not found on the java.library.path: E:\Program Files\Java\jre1.5.0_14\bin;.;C:\WINDOWS\system32;C:\WINDOWS;E:\Program Files\Java\jre1.5.0_14\bin\client;E:\Program Files\Java\jre1.5.0_14\bin;C:\WINDOWS\system32;C:\WINDOWS;C:\WINDOWS\System32\Wbem;C:\Program Files\TortoiseSVN\bin;E:\Program Files\Java\jdk1.5.0_14\bin;.;E:\Program Files\apache-ant-1.7.1\bin;.;
    Apr 2, 2009 10:48:54 AM org.apache.coyote.http11.Http11BaseProtocol init
    INFO: Initializing Coyote HTTP/1.1 on http-8080
    Apr 2, 2009 10:48:54 AM org.apache.catalina.startup.Catalina load
    INFO: Initialization processed in 672 ms
    Apr 2, 2009 10:48:54 AM org.apache.catalina.core.StandardService start
    INFO: Starting service Catalina
    Apr 2, 2009 10:48:55 AM org.apache.catalina.core.StandardEngine start
    INFO: Starting Servlet Engine: Apache Tomcat/5.5.27
    Apr 2, 2009 10:48:55 AM org.apache.catalina.core.StandardHost start
    INFO: XML validation disabled
    Apr 2, 2009 10:48:55 AM org.apache.catalina.core.StandardContext filterStart
    SEVERE: Exception starting filter struts2
    java.lang.ClassNotFoundException: org.apache.struts2.dispatcher.FilterDispatcher
    at org.apache.catalina.loader.WebappClassLoader.loadClass(WebappClassLoader.java:1386)
    at org.apache.catalina.loader.WebappClassLoader.loadClass(WebappClassLoader.java:1232)
    at org.apache.catalina.core.ApplicationFilterConfig.getFilter(ApplicationFilterConfig.java:207)
    at org.apache.catalina.core.ApplicationFilterConfig.setFilterDef(ApplicationFilterConfig.java:302)
    at org.apache.catalina.core.ApplicationFilterConfig.(ApplicationFilterConfig.java:78)
    at org.apache.catalina.core.StandardContext.filterStart(StandardContext.java:3635)
    at org.apache.catalina.core.StandardContext.start(StandardContext.java:4222)
    at org.apache.catalina.core.ContainerBase.start(ContainerBase.java:1014)
    at org.apache.catalina.core.StandardHost.start(StandardHost.java:736)
    at org.apache.catalina.core.ContainerBase.start(ContainerBase.java:1014)
    at org.apache.catalina.core.StandardEngine.start(StandardEngine.java:443)
    at org.apache.catalina.core.StandardService.start(StandardService.java:448)
    at org.apache.catalina.core.StandardServer.start(StandardServer.java:700)
    at org.apache.catalina.startup.Catalina.start(Catalina.java:552)
    at sun.reflect.NativeMethodAccessorImpl.invoke0(Native Method)
    at sun.reflect.NativeMethodAccessorImpl.invoke(Unknown Source)
    at sun.reflect.DelegatingMethodAccessorImpl.invoke(Unknown Source)
    at java.lang.reflect.Method.invoke(Unknown Source)
    at org.apache.catalina.startup.Bootstrap.start(Bootstrap.java:295)
    at org.apache.catalina.startup.Bootstrap.main(Bootstrap.java:433)
    Apr 2, 2009 10:48:55 AM org.apache.catalina.core.StandardContext start
    SEVERE: Error filterStart
    Apr 2, 2009 10:48:55 AM org.apache.catalina.core.StandardContext start
    SEVERE: Context [/HelloWorld1] startup failed due to previous errors
    Apr 2, 2009 10:48:55 AM org.apache.coyote.http11.Http11BaseProtocol start
    INFO: Starting Coyote HTTP/1.1 on http-8080
    Apr 2, 2009 10:48:55 AM org.apache.jk.common.ChannelSocket init
    INFO: JK: ajp13 listening on /0.0.0.0:8009
    Apr 2, 2009 10:48:55 AM org.apache.jk.server.JkMain start
    INFO: Jk running ID=0 time=0/31 config=null
    Apr 2, 2009 10:48:55 AM org.apache.catalina.storeconfig.StoreLoader load
    INFO: Find registry server-registry.xml at classpath resource
    Apr 2, 2009 10:48:55 AM org.apache.catalina.startup.Catalina start
    INFO: Server startup in 671 ms

    i pasted the server log error to u. Every thing i checked the staging directory it is fine but where it getting error still i didn’t find . if it possible to u check my application , which i already send to u and solve my problem.

    Waiting a positive Response from u.

    Regards
    Lakshman

    # 2 January 2009 at 12:30 pm
  • Prathibha said:

    Hi,

    I am not able to deploy my HelloWorld.war into Webapps in Tomcat.It is not showing any error messages.I am new to Struts,please help me!

    Thanks,
    Prathibha

    # 4 January 2009 at 6:58 am
  • Veerasundar (author) said:

    Hi Lakshman,

    Firstly, I am not Shankar. I am Sundar. :)

    Regarding the error you are getting, I just googled for the error message and it look’s like the error message is not a serious one. Please check this thread : http://www.coderanch.com/t/85960/ApacheTomcat/Tomcat-Native-library-not-found

    Please follow the names I’ve given in my examples so that the code works fine (Pleas refer Hansi’s comment in the comment section of this blog post!). I was kinda busy with my work these days, didn’t get time to go through your code.

    If you need any urgent assistance in Struts 2, try posting your query in forums like JavaRanch or Struts mailing archives

    Have a nice day!

    # 5 January 2009 at 5:13 am
  • Veerasundar (author) said:

    Hi Prathibha ,

    Got your email. Glad that my tutorial helped you.

    Thanks.

    # 5 January 2009 at 5:16 am

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