--- /dev/null	Thu Jan 01 00:00:00 1970 +0000
+++ b/src/main/java/de/mpiwg/itgroup/ismi/util/guiComponents/FacesUtils.java	Wed Oct 29 14:00:28 2014 +0000
@@ -0,0 +1,134 @@
+package de.mpiwg.itgroup.ismi.util.guiComponents;
+import javax.faces.FactoryFinder;
+import javax.faces.application.Application;
+import javax.faces.application.ApplicationFactory;
+import javax.faces.application.FacesMessage;
+import javax.faces.context.ExternalContext;
+import javax.faces.context.FacesContext;
+import javax.faces.el.ValueBinding;
+import javax.servlet.ServletContext;
+import javax.servlet.http.HttpServletRequest;
+import javax.servlet.http.HttpSession;
+
+/**
+ * JSF utilities.
+ */
+public class FacesUtils {
+    /**
+         * Get servlet context.
+         *
+         * @return the servlet context
+         */
+        public static ServletContext getServletContext() {
+            return (ServletContext) FacesContext.getCurrentInstance().getExternalContext().getContext();
+        }
+    
+        public static ExternalContext getExternalContext() {
+            FacesContext fc = FacesContext.getCurrentInstance();
+            return fc.getExternalContext();
+        }
+    
+        public static HttpSession getHttpSession(boolean create) {
+            return (HttpSession) FacesContext.getCurrentInstance().
+                    getExternalContext().getSession(create);
+        }
+    
+        /**
+         * Get managed bean based on the bean name.
+         *
+         * @param beanName the bean name
+         * @return the managed bean associated with the bean name
+         */
+        public static Object getManagedBean(String beanName) {
+    
+            return getValueBinding(getJsfEl(beanName)).getValue(FacesContext.getCurrentInstance());
+        }
+    
+        /**
+         * Remove the managed bean based on the bean name.
+         *
+         * @param beanName the bean name of the managed bean to be removed
+         */
+        public static void resetManagedBean(String beanName) {
+            getValueBinding(getJsfEl(beanName)).setValue(FacesContext.getCurrentInstance(), null);
+        }
+    
+        /**
+         * Store the managed bean inside the session scope.
+         *
+         * @param beanName    the name of the managed bean to be stored
+         * @param managedBean the managed bean to be stored
+         */
+        public static void setManagedBeanInSession(String beanName, Object managedBean) {
+            FacesContext.getCurrentInstance().getExternalContext().getSessionMap().put(beanName, managedBean);
+        }
+    
+        /**
+        * Get parameter value from request scope.
+        *
+        * @param name the name of the parameter
+        * @return the parameter value
+        */
+       public static String getRequestParameter(String name) {
+           return (String) FacesContext.getCurrentInstance().getExternalContext().getRequestParameterMap().get(name);
+       }
+   
+       /**
+        * Add information message.
+        *
+        * @param msg the information message
+        */
+       public static void addInfoMessage(String msg) {
+           addInfoMessage(null, msg);
+       }
+   
+       /**
+        * Add information message to a specific client.
+        *
+        * @param clientId the client id
+        * @param msg      the information message
+        */
+       public static void addInfoMessage(String clientId, String msg) {
+           FacesContext.getCurrentInstance().addMessage(clientId, new FacesMessage(FacesMessage.SEVERITY_INFO, msg, msg));
+       }
+   
+       /**
+        * Add error message.
+        *
+        * @param msg the error message
+        */
+       public static void addErrorMessage(String msg) {
+           addErrorMessage(null, msg);
+       }
+   
+       /**
+        * Add error message to a specific client.
+        *
+        * @param clientId the client id
+        * @param msg      the error message
+        */
+       public static void addErrorMessage(String clientId, String msg) {
+           FacesContext.getCurrentInstance().addMessage(clientId, new FacesMessage(FacesMessage.SEVERITY_ERROR, msg, msg));
+       }
+   
+       private static Application getApplication() {
+           ApplicationFactory appFactory = (ApplicationFactory) FactoryFinder.getFactory(FactoryFinder.APPLICATION_FACTORY);
+           return appFactory.getApplication();
+       }
+   
+       private static ValueBinding getValueBinding(String el) {
+           return getApplication().createValueBinding(el);
+       }
+   
+       private static HttpServletRequest getServletRequest() {
+           return (HttpServletRequest) FacesContext.getCurrentInstance().getExternalContext().getRequest();
+       }
+   
+       private static Object getElValue(String el) {
+           return getValueBinding(el).getValue(FacesContext.getCurrentInstance());
+       }
+   
+       private static String getJsfEl(String value) {
+           return "#{" + value + "}";
+       }
+   }
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