title: JSF 2 dataTable row index without dataModel
body: <p>I've been using ui:repeat to generate tables. With ui:repeat it's easy to get the rows numbered using the <code>varStatus</code>. I'm depending on the row id's from varStatus when calling the backing bean to handle list navigation, for example moving an item up or down in the list.</p>
  
  <p>Now I'd like to create a composite component that builds a customizable table with all functionality needed for marking rows, moving them up/down etc. To do this, the ui:repeat won't work as I can't see a way of handling different number of columns; I need to specify headings in one place and the body in another (and I've not reached the knowledge point where I can create a custom component). Therefore I went on to datatable instead, as using that means specifying the headers as facets at the same place as the body content.</p>
  
  <p>That worked well until I noticed that for some reason there were no <code>varStatus</code> anymore. I have put a lot of work into handling list presentation without any need for a <code>datamodel</code> and I do not want to start using that. Is there any way that I can get the current row number as it is displayed in the table, without using <code>datamodel</code>?</p>
  
  <p>Also I'm using viewScope and if I've understood correctly that means I cannot bind the dataTable to the bean.</p>