Evaluate customtag inside tag handler.

Question

How to make a custom tag to be evaluated in another custom tag handler?
Sample Code:
public class MyTag extends ELTextTag {
public int doStartTag() throws JspException {
     StringBuffer js = new StringBuffer(800);
     // This is evaluated
     js.append(�<tr></td>this plain html is evaluated</td></tr>�);
     // This custom tag doest not evaluate, just prints as it is
     js.append(�<myTag:divTag class=\�tagClass\� />�);
TagUtils.getInstance().write(this.pageContext, js.toString());
How to force this custom tags to be evaluated ?
Rgds
Ramya

Answer 1

I guess you are referring to post #3 in the other thread where somebody had suggested that the way to do it would be to replicate the container implementation of the nested tag inside the main one.
I think that's exactly what the cold tags link that I posted does. Its a hack and if it works, then I dont see why you shouldnt use it.
However a word of caution. Tags, like servlets are container managed objects and every container does several optimizations on tag instances. For example some containers pool tag objects per page. By hijacking the lifecycle methods of the tag, you may be opening yourself to some potentially serious discrepancies when the tag is used by itself (ie the container invokes it) and you use it from within another tag.
If you arent impressed, think about this - is it proper to call a Servlet from another Servlet just by invoking the init(), service() and destroy() method of the second servlet from within the first? It would work, but God only knows what problems you would face in future to such hacks :)
Anyways all the best.
cheers,
ram :)