How to test against enum values in JSTL EL test?

Question

I have the following block in my JSP, which converts from ENUM values {CREATE, CREATE_FROM_CAMPAIGN, OPEN} into nice, readable status texts.

For some reason the first test against 'CREATE' works, but the test against the 'CREATE_FROM_CAMPAIGN' does not.

<c:choose>
    <c:when test="${entry.activity eq 'CREATE'}">
        <td>was created</td>
    </c:when>
    <c:when test="$(entry.activity eq 'CREATE_FROM_CAMPAIGN'}">
        <td>was created from campaign</td>
    </c:when>
    <c:otherwise>
        <td>was opened (${entry.activity}) </td>
    </c:otherwise>
</c:choose>

One output from this one is as follows:

was opened (CREATE_FROM_CAMPAIGN)

was opened (OPEN)

Why does the second test not work?

Answer 1

It does not work because you used $( instead of ${ to start the expression.

Fix it accordingly:

<c:choose>
    <c:when test="${entry.activity eq 'CREATE'}">
        <td>was created</td>
    </c:when>
    <c:when test="${entry.activity eq 'CREATE_FROM_CAMPAIGN'}">
        <td>was created from campaign</td>
    </c:when>
    <c:otherwise>
        <td>was opened (${entry.activity}) </td>
    </c:otherwise>
</c:choose>