# Using Portal JSP Tags

This section introduces tools to assist you in creating the most complete functionality with the least effort possible.

WebLogic Workshop includes many powerful features to help you create Web applications - from custom tag libraries to visual editors with color-coding and strong syntax and error checking. Portal Extensions also includes a lightweight browser to preview your portlets, as well as a Content Preview window to view the results of content queries.

## Using JSP Tags

When a JSP is opened in Workshop, the Palette displays all the JSP tags currently loaded and available.

To use a tag, simply drag it into the JSP designer, use the Source View to edit the code directly, and use the Properties Designer to set properties.

Edit the JSP, toggling back and forth between the Source View and Design View tab.

You can also manually start to type the JSP tag in Source View and in many cases the auto-complete feature provides a drop-down selection of tags you can choose from. You can also press Alt-Enter to automatically add the tab library import statement to the top of the JSP.

NOTE: Much of the functionality exposed by the Portal JSP tags has been conglomerated into even simpler objects called Controls. This means that most user management functionality, for example, can be easily exposed with a User Manager Control on a Page Flow. For more fine-grained customization, JSPs are extremely powerful.

## JSPs in Portlets

Portlets use JSPs as their content nodes, enabling reuse and facilitating personalization and other programmatic functionality. JSPs are created by WebLogic Workshop and provide a structure for other elements to be added to a portlet.

For instance, using the Palette Window for JSP Tags, you can drag portal tags into the design or the source view of your JSP, and use the Property Designer to make edits to exposed elements of the code.

### About JSP Tags and Portlets

The following topics offer overviews and links to more detailed reference material:

- JSP Tag Wizards: When dragged into the Portal Designer , certain Portal JSP tags invoke wizards that automatically populate important tag attributes in your JSP.
- JSP Tags Reference: The tag libraries provided for developing Web applications on WebLogic Platform are documented extensively.
- Pageflow Reference: To use Pageflows effectively, familiarize yourself with annotations, icons, exception handling, and data binding. Actions defined in a Pageflow can be called fom within a JSP, and vice-versa. These calls can be invoked by dragging action icons into the design view of your JSP.

Related Topics

Developing JSPs

How Do I Create a Portlet?

How Do I: Start Using Portals?

How Do I: Debug an Application?