I am using 1.1 GA with Jboss AS 4.05 The way I solved it for the moment is : rendered="#{contact.name!=''}" View the original post : http://www.jboss.com/index.html?module=bb&op=viewtopic&p=3996297#3996297 Reply to the post : http://www.jboss.com/index.html?module=bb&op=posting&mode=reply&p=3996297