EL to render a panelgrid

Question

I have two input boxes for getting AreaCode (3 digit) and number (7 digit). I have error messages placed in a panel grid underneath these input boxes. Follolwing is the code that i have.
<h:inputText id="aCode" value="#{student.stu.int_phone_AreaCode}"
maxlength="3" style="width:2em;" required= "true"
requiredMessage="Area Code Required"
validatorMessage="Invalid Area Code"
converterMessage="Invalid code">
<f:validateLength minimum="3"/>
</h:inputText>
<h:inputText id="pNumber" value="#{student.stu.int_phone_Number}"
maxlength="7" style="width: 4em;" required= "true"
requiredMessage="Phone Number Required"
validatorMessage="Invalid Phone Number"
converterMessage="Invalid Phone Number">
<f:validateLength minimum="7"/>
</h:inputText>
<h:panelGrid columns="1" rendered="EL?">
<h:message for="aCode" style="color:red" id="msg_areaCode"></h:message>
<h:message for="pNumber" style="color:red" id="msg_pNumber"></h:message>
</h:panelGrid>The problem with panel grid is even when there are no error messages it creates some padding and the input boxes move a little bit top. I need to put an expression language in the rendered attribute of the panel grid that if there is an error message then only render the panelGrid.
Thanks in advance.
Regards
Sandeep

Answer 1

You can try if this works.
<h:panelGrid columns="1" rendered="#{yourBackingBean.gridRendered}">
<h:message for="aCode" style="color:red" id="msg_areaCode"></h:message>
<h:message for="pNumber" style="color:red" id="msg_pNumber"></h:message>
</h:panelGrid>and in the backing bean
public boolean isGridRendered() {
        FacesContext ctx = FacesContext.getCurrentInstance();
        Iterator i = ctx.getMessages();
        if (i.hasNext()) {
            return true;
        else {
            return false;
}