How to set converter properties for each row/item of h:dataTable/ui:repeat?

To the point, you expected that the converter’s properties are set every time a datatable row is rendered. This is indeed not true. JSF will create only one converter instance per component when the view is to be built, it will not create/reset the converter each time the row is rendered.

There are several ways to get it to work.

• Pass the dynamic attributes as <f:attribute> of the component and let the Converter intercept on that. You can find an example here: JSF convertDateTime with timezone in datatable. This can then be used as

  <h:outputText value="#{item.balanceDate}">
      <f:converter converterId="isoDateTimeConverter" />
      <f:attribute name="pattern" value="#{item.pattern}" />
  </h:outputText>
  

  ---

• Use an EL function instead of a Converter. You can find an example here: Facelets and JSTL (Converting a Date to a String for use in a field). This can then be used as

  <h:outputText value="#{mh:convertIsoDate(item.balanceDate, item.pattern)}" />
  

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• Bind the converter and datatable’s DataModel as a property of the same managed bean. This way you will be able to set the converter’s properties based on the row data before returning it. Here’s a basic kickoff example based on standard JSF components and standard DateTimeConverter (it should work equally good on PrimeFaces components and with your custom converter):

  <h:dataTable value="#{bean.model}" var="item">
      <h:column>
          <h:outputText value="#{item.date}" converter="#{bean.converter}" />
      </h:column>
  </h:dataTable>
  

  with

  @ManagedBean
  @ViewScoped
  public class Bean implements Serializable {
  
      private List<Item> items;
      private DataModel<Item> model;
      private DateTimeConverter converter;
  
      @PostConstruct
      public void init() {
          items = Arrays.asList(
              new Item(new Date(), "dd-MM-yyyy"), 
              new Item(new Date(), "yyyy-MM-dd"), 
              new Item(new Date(), "MM/dd/yyyy"));
          model = new ListDataModel<Item>(items);
          converter = new DateTimeConverter();
      }
  
      public DataModel<Item> getModel() {
          return model;
      }
  
      public Converter getConverter() {
          converter.setPattern(model.getRowData().getPattern());
          return converter;
      }
  
  }
  

  (the Item class is just a bean with two properties Date date and String pattern)

  this results in

  23-09-2011
  2011-09-23
  09/23/2011

  ---

• Use OmniFaces <o:converter> instead. It supports render time evaluation of EL in the attributes. See also the <o:converter> showcase example.

  <h:outputText value="#{item.balanceDate}">
      <o:converter converterId="isoDateTimeConverter" pattern="#{item.pattern}" />
  </h:outputText>