---
title: Lazy Query Container
order: 2
layout: page
---

[[lazy-query-container]]
Lazy query container
--------------------

[[when-to-use-lazy-query-container]]
When to Use Lazy Query Container?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Typical usage scenario is browsing a large persistent data set in Vaadin
Table. LQC minimizes the complexity of the required custom
implementation while retaining all table features like sorting and lazy
loading. LQC delegates sorting of the data set to the backend data store
instead of sorting in memory. Sorting in memory would require entire
data set to be loaded to application server.

[[what-is-lazy-loading]]
What is Lazy Loading?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

In this context lazy loading refers to loading items to table on demand
in batches instead of loading the entire data set to memory at once.
This is useful in most business applications as row counts often range
from thousands to millions. Loading more than few hundred rows to memory
often causes considerable delay in page response.

[[getting-started]]
Getting Started
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

To use LQC you need to get the add-on from add-ons page and drop it to
your projects WEB-INF/lib directory. After this you can use existing
query factory (`JpaQueryFactory`), extend `AbstractBeanQuery` or proceed to
implement custom `Query` and `QueryFactory`. Finally you need to instantiate
`LazyQueryContainer` and give your query factory as constructor parameter.

[[how-to-use-lazy-query-container-with-table]]
How to Use Lazy Query Container with Table?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

LQC is implementation of Vaadin Container interface. Please refer to
Book of Vaadin for usage details of Table and Container implementations
generally.

[[how-to-use-entitycontainer]]
How to Use EntityContainer
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

`EntityContainer` is specialized version `LazyQueryContainer` allowing easy
use of JPA as persistence layer and supports defining where criteria and
corresponding parameter map in addition to normal `LazyQueryContainer`
features:

[source,java]
....
entityContainer = new EntityContainer<Task>(entityManager, true, Task.class, 100,
    new Object[] { "name" }, new boolean[] { true });
entityContainer.addContainerProperty("name", String.class, "", true, true);
entityContainer.addContainerProperty("reporter", String.class, "", true, true);
entityContainer.addContainerProperty("assignee", String.class, "", true, true);
whereParameters = new HashMap<String, Object>();
whereParameters.put("name", nameFilter);
entityContainer.filter("e.name=:name", whereParameters);

table.setContainerDataSource(entityContainer);
....

[[how-to-use-beanqueryfactory]]
How to Use BeanQueryFactory
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

`BeanQueryFactory` and `AbstractBeanQuery` are used to implement queries
saving and loading JavaBeans.

The `BeanQueryFactory` is used as follows with the Vaadin table. Usage of
`queryConfiguration` is optional and enables passing objects to the
constructed queries:

[source,java]
....
Table table = new Table();
BeanQueryFactory<TaskBeanQuery> queryFactory = new
    BeanQueryFactory<TaskBeanQuery>(TaskBeanQuery.class);

Map<String,Object> queryConfiguration = new HashMap<String,Object>();
queryConfiguration.put("taskService",new TaskService());
queryFactory.setQueryConfiguration(queryConfiguration);

LazyQueryContainer container = new LazyQueryContainer(queryFactory,50);
table.setContainerDataSource(container);
....

Here is a simple example of `AbstractBeanQuery` implementation:

[source,java]
....
public class TaskBeanQuery extends AbstractBeanQuery<Task> {

  public TaskBeanQuery(QueryDefinition definition,
        Map<String, Object> queryConfiguration, Object[] sortPropertyIds,
        boolean[] sortStates) {
    super(definition, queryConfiguration, sortPropertyIds, sortStates);
  }

  @Override
  protected Task constructBean() {
    return new Task();
  }

  @Override
  public int size() {
    TaskService taskService =
        (TaskService)queryConfiguration.get("taskService");
    return taskService.countTasks();
  }

  @Override
  protected List<Task> loadBeans(int startIndex, int count) {
    TaskService taskService =
        (TaskService)queryConfiguration.get("taskService");
    return taskService.loadTasks(startIndex, count, sortPropertyIds, sortStates);
  }

  @Override
  protected void saveBeans(List<Task> addedTasks, List<Task> modifiedTasks,
    List<Task> removedTasks) {
    TaskService taskService =
        (TaskService)queryConfiguration.get("taskService");
    taskService.saveTasks(addedTasks, modifiedTasks, removedTasks);
  }
}
....

[[how-to-implement-custom-query-and-queryfactory]]
How to Implement Custom Query and QueryFactory?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

`QueryFactory` instantiates new query whenever sort state changes or
refresh is requested. Query can construct for example named JPA query in
constructor. Data loading starts by invocation of `Query.size()` method
and after this data is loaded in batches by invocations of
`Query.loadItems()`.

Please remember that the idea is to load data in batches. You do not
need to load the entire data set to memory. If you do that you are
better of with some other container implementation like
`BeanItemContainer`. To be able to load database in batches you need your
storage to provide you with the result set size and ability to load rows
in batches as illustrated by the following pseudo code:

[source,java]
....
int countObjects(SearchCriteria searchCriteria);
List<Object> getObjects(SearchCriteria searchCriteria, int startIndex, int batchSize);
....

Here is simple read only JPA example to illustrate the idea. You can
find further examples from add-on page.

[source,java]
....
package com.logica.portlet.example;

import javax.persistence.EntityManager;

import org.vaadin.addons.lazyquerycontainer.Query;
import org.vaadin.addons.lazyquerycontainer.QueryDefinition;
import org.vaadin.addons.lazyquerycontainer.QueryFactory;

public class MovieQueryFactory implements QueryFactory {

  private EntityManager entityManager;
  private QueryDefinition definition;

  public MovieQueryFactory(EntityManager entityManager) {
    super();
    this.entityManager = entityManager;
  }

  @Override
  public void setQueryDefinition(QueryDefinition definition) {
    this.definition = definition;
  }

  @Override
  public Query constructQuery(Object[] sortPropertyIds, boolean[] sortStates) {
    return new MovieQuery(entityManager,definition,sortPropertyIds,sortStates);
  }
}
....

[source,java]
....
package com.logica.portlet.example;

import java.util.ArrayList;
import java.util.List;

import javax.persistence.EntityManager;

import org.vaadin.addons.lazyquerycontainer.Query;
import org.vaadin.addons.lazyquerycontainer.QueryDefinition;

import com.logica.example.jpa.Movie;
import com.vaadin.data.Item;
import com.vaadin.data.util.BeanItem;

public class MovieQuery implements Query {

  private EntityManager entityManager;
  private QueryDefinition definition;
  private String criteria = "";

  public MovieQuery(EntityManager entityManager,
                    QueryDefinition definition,
                    Object[] sortPropertyIds,
                    boolean[] sortStates) {
    super();
    this.entityManager = entityManager;
    this.definition = definition;

    for(int i=0;i<sortPropertyIds.length;i++) {
      if(i==0) {
        criteria = " ORDER BY";
      } else {
        criteria+ = ",";
      }
      criteria += " m." + sortPropertyIds[i];
      if(sortStates[i]) {
        criteria += " ASC";
      }
      else {
        criteria += " DESC";
      }
    }
  }

  @Override
  public Item constructItem() {
    return new BeanItem<Movie>(new Movie());
  }

  @Override
  public int size() {
    javax.persistence.Query query = entityManager.
        createQuery("SELECT count(m) from Movie as m");
    return (int)((Long) query.getSingleResult()).longValue();
  }

  @Override
  public List<Item> loadItems(int startIndex, int count) {
    javax.persistence.Query query = entityManager.
        createQuery("SELECT m from Movie as m" + criteria);
    query.setFirstResult(startIndex);
    query.setMaxResults(count);

    List<Movie> movies=query.getResultList();
    List<Item> items=new ArrayList<Item>();
    for(Movie movie : movies) {
      items.add(new BeanItem<Movie>(movie));
    }

    return items;
  }

  @Override
  public void saveItems(List<Item> addedItems, List<Item> modifiedItems,
        List<Item> removedItems) {
    throw new UnsupportedOperationException();
  }

  @Override
  public boolean deleteAllItems() {
    throw new UnsupportedOperationException();
  }
}
....

[[how-to-implement-editable-table]]
How to Implement Editable Table?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

First you need to implement the `Query.saveItems()` method. After this you
need to set some of the properties editable in your items and set table
in editable mode as well. After user has made changes you need to call
`container.commit()` or `container.discard()` to commit or rollback
respectively. Please find complete examples of table handing and
editable JPA query from add-on page.

[[how-to-use-debug-properties]]
How to Use Debug Properties?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

LQC provides set of debug properties which give information about
response times, number of queries constructed and data batches loaded.
To use these properties the items used need to contain these properties
with correct ids and types. If you use dynamic items you can defined
them in the query definition and add them on demand in the query
implementation.

[source,java]
....
container.addContainerProperty(LazyQueryView.DEBUG_PROPERTY_ID_QUERY_INDEX, Integer.class, 0, true, false);
container.addContainerProperty(LazyQueryView.DEBUG_PROPERTY_ID_BATCH_INDEX, Integer.class, 0, true, false);
container.addContainerProperty(LazyQueryView.DEBUG_PROPERTY_ID_BATCH_QUERY_TIME, Integer.class, 0, true, false);
....

[[how-to-use-row-status-indicator-column-in-table]]
How to Use Row Status Indicator Column in Table?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

When creating editable tables LCQ provides
`QueryItemStatusColumnGenerator` which can be used to generate the status
column cells to the table. In addition you need to have the status
property in your items. If your items respect the query definition you
can implement this as follows:

[source,java]
....
container.addContainerProperty(LazyQueryView.PROPERTY_ID_ITEM_STATUS,
            QueryItemStatus.class, QueryItemStatus.None, true, false);
....

[[how-to-use-status-column-and-debug-columns-with-beans]]
How to Use Status Column and Debug Columns with Beans
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Here is example query implementation which shows how JPA and beans can
be used together with status and debug properties:

[source,java]
....
package org.vaadin.addons.lazyquerycontainer.example;

import java.beans.BeanInfo;
import java.beans.Introspector;
import java.beans.PropertyDescriptor;
import java.util.ArrayList;
import java.util.List;

import javax.persistence.EntityManager;

import org.vaadin.addons.lazyquerycontainer.CompositeItem;
import org.vaadin.addons.lazyquerycontainer.Query;
import org.vaadin.addons.lazyquerycontainer.QueryDefinition;

import com.vaadin.data.Item;
import com.vaadin.data.util.BeanItem;
import com.vaadin.data.util.ObjectProperty;

public class TaskQuery implements Query {

  private EntityManager entityManager;
  private QueryDefinition definition;
  private String criteria=" ORDER BY t.name ASC";

  public TaskQuery(EntityManager entityManager, QueryDefinition definition,
      Object[] sortPropertyIds, boolean[] sortStates) {
    super();
    this.entityManager = entityManager;
    this.definition = definition;

    for(int i=0; i<sortPropertyIds.length; i++) {
      if(i==0) {
        criteria = " ORDER BY";
      } else {
        criteria+ = ",";
      }
      criteria += " t." + sortPropertyIds[i];
      if(sortStates[i]) {
        criteria += " ASC";
      }
      else {
        criteria += " DESC";
      }
    }
  }

  @Override
  public Item constructItem() {
    Task task=new Task();
    try {
      BeanInfo info = Introspector.getBeanInfo( Task.class );
      for ( PropertyDescriptor pd : info.getPropertyDescriptors() ) {
        for(Object propertyId : definition.getPropertyIds()) {
          if(pd.getName().equals(propertyId)) {
            pd.getWriteMethod().invoke(task,
                definition.getPropertyDefaultValue(propertyId));
          }
        }
      }
    } catch(Exception e) {
      throw new RuntimeException("Error in bean property population");
    }
    return toItem(task);
  }

  @Override
  public int size() {
    javax.persistence.Query query = entityManager.createQuery(
        "SELECT count(t) from Task as t");
    return (int)((Long) query.getSingleResult()).longValue();
  }

  @Override
  public List<Item> loadItems(int startIndex, int count) {
    javax.persistence.Query query = entityManager.createQuery(
            "SELECT t from Task as t" + criteria);
    query.setFirstResult(startIndex);
    query.setMaxResults(count);

    List<Task> tasks=query.getResultList();
    List<Item> items=new ArrayList<Item>();
    for(Task task : tasks) {
      items.add(toItem(task));
    }
    return items;
  }

  @Override
  public void saveItems(List<Item> addedItems, List<Item> modifiedItems,
        List<Item> removedItems) {
    entityManager.getTransaction().begin();
    for(Item item : addedItems) {
      entityManager.persist(fromItem(item));
    }
    for(Item item : modifiedItems) {
      entityManager.persist(fromItem(item));
    }
    for(Item item : removedItems) {
      entityManager.remove(fromItem(item));
    }
    entityManager.getTransaction().commit();
  }

  @Override
  public boolean deleteAllItems() {
    throw new UnsupportedOperationException();
  }

  private Item toItem(Task task) {
    BeanItem<Task> beanItem= new BeanItem<Task>(task);

    CompositeItem compositeItem=new CompositeItem();

    compositeItem.addItem("task", beanItem);

    for(Object propertyId : definition.getPropertyIds()) {
      if(compositeItem.getItemProperty(propertyId)==null) {
        compositeItem.addItemProperty(propertyId, new ObjectProperty(
            definition.getPropertyDefaultValue(propertyId),
            definition.getPropertyType(propertyId),
            definition.isPropertyReadOnly(propertyId)));
      }
    }
    return compositeItem;
  }

  private Task fromItem(Item item) {
    return (Task)((BeanItem)(((CompositeItem)item).getItem("task"))).getBean();
  }
}
....
