A portlet project, like a Web project, is a J2EE Web application. It is
similar to a Web project in that a web.xml file is maintained for it. The
main difference between a portlet project and a Web project is that the portlet
project has an extra deployment descriptor, portlet.xml, in the WEB-INF
directory.
Portlet projects
There are two types of portlet
projects.
- Portlet Project: A portlet project that contains resources for
portlet applications that use the IBM® portlet API.
- Portlet Project (JSR 168): A portlet project that contains resources
for portlet applications that use the JSR 168 portlet API. The JSR 168 portlet
API is supported by WebSphere® Portal 5.0.2.1 or later.
To create a portlet project, you can use the New Portlet Project wizard
or New Portlet Project (JSR 168) wizard.
Portlet Type
You can select one of the following
portlet types:
- Empty portlet: Creates a portlet application and a portlet entry
on the portlet deployment descriptor. A skeleton portlet class is also created.
To complete the portlet application, you need to update the portlet class.
- Basic portlet: Creates a portlet application that extends a portlet
class: the Portlet Adapter class of the IBM portlet API, or the GenericPortlet class
of the JSR 168 portlet API. This portlet type contains the portlet class,
sample JSP files that are used in rendering the portlet, and a sample Java™ bean.
Several programming patterns are used in the portlet, including:
- Forms handling
- Storage of data items in the Portlet Session or Portlet Request
- Use of beans
- Tag library
In addition, you can optionally add the following programming
patterns using the wizard:
- Action handling
- Message handling
- Storage of Portlet Data
- Cooperative portlets
- Single sign-on support
- Multiple markups
- Multiple portlet modes
- Faces portlet: Faces (JavaServer Faces) portlets are available
both for the IBM portlet
API and the JSR 168 portlet API. Faces portlets only support J2EE 1.3 and WebSphere Portal
Version 5 or higher. For more information about Faces portlets, refer to JavaServer Faces portlet applications and Creating Faces portlets and projects.
- Struts portlet: Struts portlets are available both for the IBM portlet
API and the JSR 168 portlet API. For more information about Struts portlets,
refer to Struts portlet applications and Creating Struts portlets and projects.
Table 1. Supported portlet typesPortlet Type |
WebSphere Portal
5.0.2.2 and 5.1 |
JSR 168 API |
IBM portlet API |
Basic portlet |
Supported |
Supported |
Faces portlet |
Supported |
Supported |
Struts portlet |
Not supported |
Supported |