Using table in h:dataTable

Question

I'm trying to use <table> tags inside an h:column tag in an attempt to control formating with colspan and rowspan attributes like this:
<h:dataTable var="data" value="#{upConference.conferences}" columnClasses="vert"
rowClasses="evenrow, oddrow">
<h:column>
<table border="1" width="800">
<tr>
<td><h:outputText value="#{data.START_DATE}"/>
<h:outputText value=" - #{data.END_DATE}"/></td>
<td><h:outputText value="#{data.Some_other_field}"/></td>
<td><h:outputText value="#{data.Some_other_field}"/></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td rowspan="3"></td>
<td rowspan="3">
<h:outputText value="#{data.Some_other_field}"/>
Address1
Address2
city, state, zip
</td>
<td><h:outputText value="#{data.Some_other_field}"/></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><h:outputText value="#{data.Some_other_field}"/></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Come see us! NPP Booth Number: </td>
</tr>
</table>
</h:column>
</h:dataTable>
The <h:outputText> field are rending outside the tables so, I'm wondering if this can be accomplished or if it's a pipe dream.
Thanks

Answer 1

You may use verbatim tags to enclose html tags.
<h:dataTable ...>
<h:column>
<f:verbatim>
html codes here ...
</f:verbatim>
<h:outputText ...>
<h:outputText ...>
<h:outputText ...>
<f:verbatim>
more html codes here ...
</f:verbatim>
</h:column>
</h:dataTable>
Hope that helps.
Billy