External - How to refer to a replicant of datums

Rob76

Hello

I have a component that uses an external. The properties of that external has a replicant of DCR types. In my class how can I refer to that array/list?

Notice how the DCRValuePropositions group id is Replicatable.

Here is the Content XML

[html]





templatedata/Affinity/Headline/data/Keep-your-school-spirit-alive



templatedata/Affinity/ValuePropositionsDDA/data/Add-It-Up-Program



com.interwoven.livesite.test.external.Disclaimers
getDisclaimers



[/html]

In my external comoponent I'm trying to do this
[html]
ParameterHash parameters = context.getParameters();

String dcrValuePropVpaths = (String) parameters.get("Value Propositions");
[/html]

However, I get this error
[html]
Caused by: java.lang.ClassCastException: java.util.ArrayList cannot be cast to java.lang.String
[/html]

How do I access this object when it's Replicatable? And how can I check if there is only one item, which would be a String, vs multiple?

Thanks
Rob

vpatel

High level you need something along this line:

ParameterHash hash = context.getParameters();  
Object object = hash.get("your-datum");

if(StringUtils.contains(object.getClass().toString(), "java.lang.String")){ 
  // this datum object returned a string value -- do some processing...
}
else{
  List dcrs = (List)object; 
  if(dcrs == null || dcrs.isEmpty()){ 
 return;
  }
  Iterator iterator = dcrs.iterator();
  while(iterator.hasNext()){ 
 dcrPath = (String)iterator.next().toString();
   // now you have the DCR Path -- so do whatever you need to do with that ...
  }

}