[jsf] How can I pass selected row to commandLink inside dataTable or ui:repeat?

I'm using Primefaces in a JSF 2 application. I have a <p:dataTable>, and instead of selecting rows, I want the user to be able to directly execute various actions on individual rows. For that, I have several <p:commandLink>s in the last column.

My problem: how can I pass a row ID to the action started by the command link so that I know which row to act on? I tried using an <f:attribute>:

<p:dataTable value="#{bean.items}" var="item">
    ...
    <p:column>
        <p:commandLink actionListener="#{bean.insert}" value="insert">
            <f:attribute name="id" value="#{item.id}" />
        </p:commandLink>
    </p:column>
</p:dataTable>

But it always yields 0 - apparently the row variable f is not available when the attribute is rendered (it works when I use a fixed value).

Anyone has an alternative solution?

In JSF 1.2 this was done by <f:setPropertyActionListener> (within the command component). In JSF 2.0 (EL 2.2 to be precise, thanks to BalusC) it's possible to do it like this: action="${filterList.insert(f.id)}

Thanks to this site by Mkyong, the only solution that actually worked for us to pass a parameter was this

<h:commandLink action="#{user.editAction}">
    <f:param name="myId" value="#{param.id}" />
</h:commandLink>

with

public String editAction() {

  Map<String,String> params = 
            FacesContext.getExternalContext().getRequestParameterMap();
  String idString = params.get("myId");
  long id = Long.parseLong(idString);
  ...
}

Technically, that you cannot pass to the method itself directly, but to the JSF request parameter map.

In my view page:

<p:dataTable  ...>
<p:column>
<p:commandLink actionListener="#{inquirySOController.viewDetail}" 
               process="@this" update=":mainform:dialog_content"
           oncomplete="dlg2.show()">
    <h:graphicImage library="images" name="view.png"/>
    <f:param name="trxNo" value="#{item.map['trxNo']}"/>
</p:commandLink>
</p:column>
</p:dataTable>

backing bean

 public void viewDetail(ActionEvent e) {

    String trxNo = getFacesContext().getRequestParameterMap().get("trxNo");

    for (DTO item : list) {
        if (item.get("trxNo").toString().equals(trxNo)) {
            System.out.println(trxNo);
            setSelectedItem(item);
            break;
        }
    }
}