poc.java

@PostMapping("safebusiness/addAct/{string}")
public String addAct(@Valid Act act, @PathVariable("string") String action, HttpServletRequest httpRequest) {
	try {
		// Try parsing id
		Integer id = Integer.parseInt(action);
		// If we reach this point, then we must be dealing with an update operation
		// Pull the existing Act
		act = actRepo.findById(id);
		// act.setId(); NOTE : This should not be done while updating
		Map<String, String[]> formData = httpRequest.getParameterMap();
		// Use the formData to get values from form

	} catch(NumberFormatException ex) {
		// means we are creating new.
	}
		List<Section> sections = APIUtils.parseSectionString(act.getSectionListString(), sectionRepo);
		for (Section sec : sections) {
			sec.setAct(act);
		}
		// TODO : https://trello.com/c/V3htZorj/16-in-controller-just-append-an-item-to-the-list-instead-of-just-calling-setlistname
		act.setSections(sections);
		Act savedAct = actRepo.save(act);
		if (savedAct != null) {
			return "redirect:viewAct/" + savedAct.getId();
		}
	return "redirect:safebusiness/index";
}