Using scriplets in jsp-tag attribute

Question

I have a strange problem with a custom taglibrary that I'm trying to write.
When I use the tag in a jsp like underneath the first outputs the right value (Welcome Hans), but the output of the second time shows: Welcome <%= test %>
This is a part of the JSP:
<% String test = "Hans"; %>
<arto:hello name="Hans" />
<arto:hello name="<%= test %>" />
I realy don't know how to let the tag display the value of the string in my jsp.
Can anyone give me some advice?
Thanks,
Hans
The files are:
import java.io.*;
import javax.servlet.jsp.*;
import javax.servlet.jsp.tagext.*;
public class HelloTag extends TagSupport {
private String name;
public void setName(String name) {
this.name = name;
public int doStartTag() throws JspException {
try {
pageContext.getOut().print("Welcome " +name);
} catch (IOException ioe) {
throw new JspException("Error: IOException while writing to client");
return SKIP_BODY;
public int doEndTag() throws JspException {
return SKIP_PAGE;
The JSP:
<%@ taglib uri="arto" prefix="arto" %>
<%
String test = "Hans";
%>
<arto:hello name="<%= test %>" />
<arto:hello name="Hans" />
The TLD:
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="ISO-8859-1" ?>
<!DOCTYPE taglib PUBLIC "-//Sun Microsystems, Inc.//DTD JSP Tag Library 1.1//EN"
"http://java.sun.com/j2ee/dtds/web-jsptaglibrary_1_1.dtd">
<taglib>
<tlibversion>1.0</tlibversion>
<jspversion>1.1</jspversion>
<shortname></shortname>
<uri></uri>
<info></info>
<tag>
<name>hello</name>
<tagclass>HelloTag</tagclass>
<bodycontent>empty</bodycontent>
<info>Tag with Parameter</info>
<attribute>
<name>name</name>
<required>false</required>
<rtexprvalue>false</rtexprvalue>
</attribute>
</tag>
</taglib>

Answer 1

In the tld for the name attribute, use
<rtexprvalue>true</rtexprvalue>
This specifies that the attribute value can be a run-time expression. Otherwise, the value is taken as a literal.