Chapter 5. Portal Object Management - Dynamicity
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## Chapter 5. Portal Object Management - Dynamicity

### Roy Russo

`<roy @ jboss dot org>`

## 5.1. Introduction

The concept of dynamicity is that all portal objects are able to dynamically be modified at runtime, eliminating the need to struggle with large xml files, or restarting the application server for changes to take effect. In the scope of dynamicity, Portal objects are defined and can be altered as follows:

- Portal Instances: Multiple Portal instances can be launched at any time, secured, and skinned.
- Pages: Multiple pages, composed of windows, can coexist inside a portal instance, secured and each could have its own theme applied, if desired.
- Portlets: Can be hot-deployed and will instantly register with the portal, appearing in the management portlet.
- Portlet Instances: Instances can be created/destroyed. Their preference variables can be modified at runtime, instances assigned to windows and secured.
- Windows: Windows can be secured, created/destroyed, and assigned to specific pages.
- Themes/Layouts: Can be hot-deployed and will register with the portal, appearing the management portlet, allowing for dynamic customization of any of the above components.

Dynamicity and our new consolidated deployment descriptor work hand-in-hand. Portal objects are all considered branches to the root portal context, and within our new deployment descriptor all branches (and leaves) can be specified.

## 5.2. Functionalities

Dynamicity allows an administrator to manage the entire portal deployment from within a portlet. Some of the many tasks available to administrators are:

- Create/Destroy portal instances.
- Create/Destroy portlet instances.
- Create/Destroy portal pages and subpages.
- Assign pages to portal instances.
- Assign portlet instances to pages.
- Modify instance variables for portlets.
- Control the order and region in which portlets appear on a page.
- Modify the theme and/or layout for a portal instance or a specific page.
- Modify the security constraints for a portal instance or a specific page.

### Note

For the remainder of this chapter, the term object will be used to mean any Portal, Page, Portlet, or Window.

## 5.3. Managing portal instances

Administrators may manage the portal, pages, subpages, and windows at any time, by clicking on the "Portal" tab at the top of the Management Portlet. The components currently deployed in the portal container are displayed in a tree-structure for ease-of-navigation and modification.

### 5.3.1. Creating portal pages

By selecting a portal instance, and then selecting the Manage option, you can create a new page. Simply assign a name to a page and submit the form.

### 5.3.2. Securing the portal instance

Selecting the Security option, allows an administrator to secure the portal instance. On this screen, you can select and unselect portal-wide security settings for a given role.

### 5.3.3. Modifying the portal instance appearance

Selecting the Theme option, allows an administrator to modify the look-and-feel for the chosen portal instance.

## 5.4. Managing portlets and portlet instances

### 5.4.1. Creating portlet instances

Clicking on the Portlet tab and then clicking on a specific portlet allows you to create a new instance of this portlet.

### 5.4.2. Modifying portlet instance preferences

Clicking on the Instance tab and selecting a portlet instance, displays a screen which allows an administrator to edit the portlet instance preferences.

### 5.4.3. Securing portlets

Selecting the Security option, allows an administrator to secure the portal page.

### Note

Depending on whether you are securing a portlet or an instance, keep in mind that instance security constraints take precedence over portlet security settings.

### 5.4.4. Modifying portlet window appearance

Selecting a portal window under the Portal tab, and selecting the Theme option, allows an administrator to modify the look-and-feel for the chosen portal page.

### Note

From this screen, an administrator can elect to set all values to emptyrenderer so the portlet window is displayed with no decorations and appears to be part of the layout.

## 5.5. Managing portal pages

### 5.5.1. Creating portlet windows

Selecting a portal page, allows you to Manage the order in which windows appear and the layout column in which they will appear. Additionally, you can name and assign portlet instances on the selected page.

### 5.5.2. Securing portal pages

Selecting the Security option, allows an administrator to secure the portal page. On this screen, you can select and unselect page security settings for a given role.

### 5.5.3. Modifying the portal page appearance

Selecting the Theme option, allows an administrator to modify the look-and-feel for the chosen portal page.

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