JR51418: NULLPOINTEREXCEPTION OCCURS WHEN YOU ACCESS EXPOSED PROCESS VARIABLES IN A DEFAULT VALUE ASSIGNMENT FOR A VARIABLE

8.0.1.3-WS-BPM-IFJR51418
8.0.1.1-WS-BPM-IFJR51418
8.5.5.0-WS-BPM-IFJR51418
Version 8.5 Refresh Pack 6 for the IBM Business Process Manager products

APAR status

• Closed as program error.

Error description

• When you use an exposed process variable (EPV) in the default
  value assignment for a variable in a business process definition
  (BPD), the process does not start and you see a
  NullPointerException in the log files that is similar to the
  following NullPointerException:
  
  java.lang.NullPointerException
   at java.util.Date.getMillisOf(Date.java:950)
   at java.util.Date.before(Date.java:909)
   at com.lombardisoftware.client.persistence.
     EpvVarValueFactory.getCurrentValue
     (EpvVarValueFactory.java:134)
   at com.lombardisoftware.core.script.js.
     AbstractTWEpvVariableScriptable.getDefaultValue
     (AbstractTWEpvVariableScriptable.java:89)
   at org.mozilla.javascript.ScriptRuntime.add
     (ScriptRuntime.java:2561)
   at org.mozilla.javascript.Interpreter.do_add
     (Interpreter.java:4669)
   at org.mozilla.javascript.Interpreter.interpretLoop
     (Interpreter.java:2958)
   at org.mozilla.javascript.Interpreter.interpret
     (Interpreter.java:2487)
   at org.mozilla.javascript.InterpretedFunction.call
     (InterpretedFunction.java:164)
   at org.mozilla.javascript.ContextFactory.doTopCall
     (ContextFactory.java:398)
   at com.lombardisoftware.core.script.JavaScriptContextFactory.
     doTopCall(JavaScriptContextFactory.java:156)
   at org.mozilla.javascript.ScriptRuntime.doTopCall
     (ScriptRuntime.java:3070)
   at org.mozilla.javascript.InterpretedFunction.exec
     (InterpretedFunction.java:175)
   at com.lombardisoftware.core.script.js.JSScript.exec
     (JSScript.java:60)
   at com.lombardisoftware.core.script.js.JavaScriptRunner$2.
     execute(JavaScriptRunner.java:286)
   at com.lombardisoftware.core.script.js.PreparedScope.
     executeWithScope(PreparedScope.java:204)
   at com.lombardisoftware.core.script.js.JavaScriptRunner.
     execute(JavaScriptRunner.java:284)
   at com.lombardisoftware.core.script.js.JavaScriptRunner.
     evalExpression(JavaScriptRunner.java:401)
   at com.lombardisoftware.core.script.js.JavaScriptRunner.
     evalExpression(JavaScriptRunner.java:389)
   at com.lombardisoftware.bpd.runtime.engine.
     BPDExecutionTreeNode.evaluateExpression
     (BPDExecutionTreeNode.java:689)
   at com.lombardisoftware.bpd.runtime.engine.
     BPDExecutionTreeNode.evaluateExpression
     (BPDExecutionTreeNode.java:655)
   at com.lombardisoftware.bpd.runtime.engine.st.
     LocalBPDSymbolTable.doInitVariablesDefaultValues
     (LocalBPDSymbolTable.java:79)
   at com.lombardisoftware.bpd.runtime.engine.st.
     LocalBPDSymbolTable.initDefaultValues(LocalBPDSymbolTable.
     java:51)
   at com.lombardisoftware.bpd.runtime.engine.
     BPDExecutionTreeNode.createLocalSymbolTable
     (BPDExecutionTreeNode.java:934)
   at com.lombardisoftware.bpd.runtime.engine.
     RootBPDExecutionTreeNode.<init>
     (RootBPDExeutionTreeNode.java:42)
   at com.lombardisoftware.bpd.runtime.engine.
     BPDExecutionContext.<init>(BPDExecutionContext.java:207)
   at com.lombardisoftware.bpd.runtime.engine.
     BPDEngine.<init>(BPDEngine.java:95)
   at com.lombardisoftware.server.ejb.bpd.BPDEngineServicesCore.
     doStartBPD(BPDEngineServiesCore.java:346)
   at com.lombardisoftware.server.ejb.bpd.BPDEngineServicesCore.
     doStartBPD(BPDEngineServicesCore.java:267)
   at com.lombardisoftware.server.ejb.bpd.BPDEngineServicesCore.
     startBPD(BPDEngineServicesCore.java:186)
   at com.lombardisoftware.server.ejb.bpd.BPDEngineServicesCore.
     startBPD(BPDEngineServicesCore.java:170)
  

Local fix

• You can prevent this issue from recurring by selecting the
  "In-Progress Tasks Use New Values" check box of the EPV
  definition.
  

Problem summary

• This issue occurs because the EPV assign date is not set in the
  process execution context at this early process creation stage.
  This date is used to determine the currently valid exposed
  variable value, especially when the "In-Progress Tasks Use New
  Values" check box on the EPV definition is not selected.
  

Problem conclusion

• A fix is/will be available for IBM BPM that initializes the EPV
  assign date in the context early enough to be available when the
  initial values of a variable are calculated.
  
  On Fix Central (http://www.ibm.com/support/fixcentral), search
  for JR51418:
  
  1. 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.
  
  2. Select APAR or SPR, enter JR51418, 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

• R801 PSY

     UP

• R855 PSY

     UP