fun with h:dataTable and a4j:form

I have some facelet components and want to use them in a h:dataTable. My components containing some form elements like h:inputText, command buttons and so on. To avoid scrolling, I have placed them into a a4j:form.

Now in my h:dataTable loop I call these facelet components and want to have a list of inputText components for example. But every time, I typed in something, only the last input field called correct my setValue() method. All other input components dosn’t call the setter.

Here a very small example to imagine the problem:

The datatable

<h:dataTable value="myBackingBean.list" var="currentItem">
  <h:column>
    <waffel:input item="#{currentItem}"/>
  </h:column>
</h:dataTable>

The facelet component:

  ...
  <a4j:form>
    <h:inputText size="30" value="#{item.value}"/>
    <a4j:commandButton value="ok" action="#{item.applyValue}"/>
  </a4j:form>
  ...

To get this to work you have to place a a4j:region around the a4j:form!

  ...
  <a4j:region>
    <a4j:form>
      <h:inputText size="30" value="#{item.value}"/>
      <a4j:commandButton value="ok" action="#{item.applyValue}"/>
    </a4j:form>
  </a4j:region>
  ...

Now it works fine.