You can't use extended EL in value bindings in Seam 1.2.1.GA (you can in Seam2) View the original post : http://www.jboss.com/index.html?module=bb&op=viewtopic&p=4064220#4064220 Reply to the post : http://www.jboss.com/index.html?module=bb&op=posting&mode=reply&p=4064220