JR50353: NULLPOINTER EXCEPTION OCCURS IF THE SERVICE ATTACHED TO UCA CALLS FORMATDATE()

Download Version 8.0.1 Fix Pack 3 for the IBM Business Process Manager products
Version 8.5 Refresh Pack 6 for the IBM Business Process Manager products
Version 8.5.0 Fix Pack 2 for the IBM Business Process Manager products

APAR status

• Closed as program error.

Error description

• You observe a NullPointerException if you attempt to execute an
  undercover agent (UCA) that has an attached service that calls
  formatDate() .
  
  The call stack of this NullPointerException is similar to the
  following:
  
  java.lang.NullPointerException
   at com.lombardisoftware.core.script.js.objects.TWDateSCR.
     getCurrentTimeZone(TWDateSCR.java:580)
   at com.lombardisoftware.core.script.js.objects.TWDateSCR.
     getDateFormat(TWDateSCR.java:396)
   at com.lombardisoftware.core.script.js.objects.TWDateSCR.
     jsFunction_formatDate(TWDateSCR.java:386)
  ?..
  

Local fix

Problem summary

• The formatDate() call utilizes user preference settings to
  retrieve the user's time zone and locale. The user preference
  settings are only initialized for user tasks, however, not for
  UCA jobs. If the formatDate() call is executed in the context of
  a UCA job, user preference settings is null, and dereferencing
  results in a NullPointerException.
  

Problem conclusion

• A fix is/will be available that initializes the user preference
  settings also for UCA jobs. For UCA jobs, the server defaults
  are used as user preference settings.
  
  On Fix Central (http://www.ibm.com/support/fixcentral), search
  for JR50353:
  
  - Select IBM Business Process Manager with your edition from the
   product selector, the installed version to the fix pack level,
   and your platform, and then click Continue.
  
  - Select APAR or SPR, enter JR50353, and click Continue.
  
  When you download fix packages, ensure that you also download
  the readme file for each fix. Review each readme file for
  additional installation instructions and information about the
  fix.
  

Temporary fix

• Not applicable
  

Comments

APAR Information

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

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

Fix information

• Fixed component name

  BPM STANDARD

• Fixed component ID

  5725C9500

Applicable component levels

• R751 PSY

     UP

• R850 PSY

     UP

• R855 PSY

     UP