IV58508: SET VALUE TO NULL IN RULES YOU WILL GET NULLPOINTER EXCEPTION

APAR status

• Closed as program error.

Error description

• When you set value to null in rules you will get
  NullPointerException. Currently it is not supported to setting
  value to a null in Rules in a fields which required conversion
  from any date types to string.
  
  Fix is required to that will set value to null.
  
  
  STEPS TO REPRODUCE:
  -----------------------------------
  1.  Login to MAM.
  2.  Open "Integration" > "Enterprise Services" application.
  3.  Open "MXWOInterface" (work order).
  4.  Select "WORKORDER" in Object Structure Sub-Records.
  5.  Open "Object Processing Rules" sub-tab, and click on "new
  row".
  6.  Create a processing rule with the following values.
  
  Rule     : TESTRULE01 (Test Rule 01)
  Action   : Set Data
  Sequence : 1 (default)
  Enabled? : Checked (default)
  Apply on Primary Object Insert? : Checked (default)
  Apply on Primary Object Update? : Checked (default)
  
  7.  Click on "Sub-Record Fields", and click on "New Row".
  8.  Add the following object field.
  
  Field : TARGSTARTDATE
  Value : Selected, and no value (NULL) is set.
  
  9.  Open "System Configuration" > "Platform Configuratoin" >
      "Cron Task Setup".
  10. Open "JMSSEQCONSUMER" (JMS sequencial queue consumer).
  11. Check "Active?" of "SEQQIN" and "SEQQOUT" instances, and
      save it.
  
  12. Open "Work Orders" > "Work Order Tracking" application.
  13. Create a new work order of which work order number (WONUM)
  is   "1028" if you do not have it.
  
  This work order record is overwritten with the following import
  data ("test.xml" sent from the customer).
  
  <?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
  <max:SyncMXWO xmlns:max="http://www.ibm.com/maximo">
    <max:MXWOSet>
      <max:WORKORDER action="Change">
        <max:DESCRIPTION>test</max:DESCRIPTION>
        <max:SITEID>BEDFORD</max:SITEID>
        <max:WONUM>1208</max:WONUM>
        <max:TARGSTARTDATE>2014-03-30</max:TARGSTARTDATE>
      </max:WORKORDER>
    </max:MXWOSet>
  </max:SyncMXWO>
  
  14. Open "Integration" > "External Systems".
  15. Open "EXTSYS1", and open "Enterprise Services" tab.
  16. Select "MXWOInterface" (work order), and click on "Data
  Import".
  17. Select "test.xml" which changes the work order created
      at step #13, and click on OK.
  
  18. See SystemOut.log and find the following error.
  
  java.lang.NullPointerException
  at
  psdi.iface.mos.ConversionUtil.stringToDate(ConversionUtil.java:5
  6)
  .....
  

Local fix

• Enter a Value
  

Problem summary

• ****************************************************************
  * USERS AFFECTED:                                              *
  * Any user who creates inbound processing rules to set vaue to *
  * null and field is not a string                               *
  ****************************************************************
  * PROBLEM DESCRIPTION:                                         *
  * Rules processing is not handling setting value to null       *
  ****************************************************************
  * RECOMMENDATION:                                              *
  * Prior to the fix the only way not to set field is to         *
  * restrict it.                                                 *
  ****************************************************************
  

Problem conclusion

• Processing rules need to support setting value to null
  

Temporary fix

Comments

APAR Information

• APAR is sysrouted FROM one or more of the following:

• APAR is sysrouted TO one or more of the following:

Modules/Macros

• MIF
  

Fix information

• Fixed component name

  INTEGRATION

• Fixed component ID

  5724R46I1

Applicable component levels

• R750 PSY

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