Accessing String assigned in a JSP from a Servlet?

Question

Hello all, I was wondering if there is a way to access a String object that was assigned by an HttpSession object in a JSP from a Servlet. What happens is, in my application a user logs in, an HttpSession object is instantiated and all of the user credentials are assigned within a JSP like:
HttpSession httpSession = request.getSession( false );
String userName = httpSession.getAttribute("userName);
...{code}
Next, I have a Servlet (which is really just a Proxy to a different server), that I need to log some information with, namely the userName String. Is there a way I can access that String without instantiating another HttpSession object? Because when the timeout occurs (or when the user clears his cache I have found), the HttpSession becomes invalidated (even if I use  +HttpSession#getSession( true )+) and the +HttpSession#getAttribute+ call fails (userName is just null). So is this possible to do?
Thanks in advance!                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               

Answer 1

dnbphysicist wrote:
I understand you cannot recover attributes from a dead session, this is why I wanted to be able to access a variable that is pulled from the Session immediately after login so I can still get to it even once the session is dead.
Normally a session doesn't go dead after login.
I imagine that by using application scope the app would confuse the userName with other users that are logged in?Certainly. It was just an example. But your data clearly belongs in the session, so just keep it in the session. If the session get invalidated while it should not get invalidated, then your problem truly lies somewhere else.
I am definitely not arguing you latter point either :) A lot of this code I inherited unfortunately from previous developers and we are in desperate need of a redesign.I wish you much luck with that.