title: How can I access Spring Webflow FlowScope elements outside the flow?
body: <p>EDIT:   I didn't get any bites on this question, so I'm adding a little more detail.</p>
  
  <p>I have a Spring Webflow app (ver 2.3.2).   I need to access multiple FlowScope objects from inside the validation of one of the steps (not inside the flow itself).     You would think this would be simple, but I haven't been able to crack it.   </p>
  
  <p>Spring Webflow provides a series of <a href="http://docs.spring.io/spring-webflow/docs/2.3.x/reference/htmlsingle/spring-webflow-reference.html#el-variables" rel="noreferrer">special EL variables</a> which can be used for accessing the various scopes, but only <strong>inside</strong> the flow itself.  Inside a custom Spring validator, there doesn't seem to be any way to get to them:  </p>
  
  <pre><code>@Component
  public class MyObjectValidator {
  
      @Autowired
      ApplicationContext context;
  
      public void validateMyObject(MyObject myObject, Errors errors) {
  
          FlowScope flowScope = context.someMagicFunction();  //  &lt;---- UNKNOWN  
          MyOtherObject otherObject = flowScope.get("otherObject");  
  
          if (incrediblyComplexValidation(myObject, otherObject) {
              errors.rejectValue("myField","validation.fail","Your object failed validation.");
          }
      }
  }
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>As you can see, inside a <a href="http://docs.spring.io/spring-webflow/docs/2.3.x/reference/htmlsingle/spring-webflow-reference.html#view-validate" rel="noreferrer">Spring Webflow Validator</a> there is no direct external linkage to anything except the object you are supposed to validate.    I need to get to those other objects  in the flowScope.   Ideally either through the <code>ApplicationContext</code> or some other environmental feature there must be a way to get to these other objects.   </p>
  
  <p>Anyone know the answer to this?</p>