topic Re: Running shell script from Activiti in Alfresco Archive

Running shell script from Activiti

alexbt — Thu, 16 Dec 2010 18:17:07 GMT

What is the best way to run a ksh or bash script (instead of a Java class) from within a script task? Or the only way is to wrap it with a Java class and use ProcessBuilder to run ksh/bash script?Maybe it's better to use Groovy to start ksh/bash script?Any ideas?One more question. Can I use jython i

Re: Running shell script from Activiti

jbarrez — Fri, 17 Dec 2010 08:40:15 GMT

Alex,

You can use any JSR-223 compliant language. So if JYthon supports that spec, just add it to the classpath and change the 'scriptFormat' value.

I don't have a best practice on how to start a shell script, so I dont see any other solution than doing as you say.

Re: Running shell script from Activiti

alexbt — Fri, 17 Dec 2010 11:51:26 GMT

Thanks for your quick reply.

Alex

Re: Running shell script from Activiti

tombaeyens — Fri, 17 Dec 2010 12:36:53 GMT

I think starting a command line process is a great idea for an activity type. Created http://jira.codehaus.org/browse/ACT-461 so that we don't forget about this idea

Re: Running shell script from Activiti

alexbt — Fri, 17 Dec 2010 13:55:07 GMT

Yes, I totally agree with it. This is actually my case - to start a ksh (on HP-UX or AIX servers) and bash (on Linux ones) scripts.

Alex

Re: Running shell script from Activiti

alexbt — Fri, 17 Dec 2010 13:59:00 GMT

I also have 2 ideas for UI part of the system.
Where should I post them?

Regards,
Alex

Re: Running shell script from Activiti

jbarrez — Mon, 20 Dec 2010 08:33:01 GMT

Depends on what you mean with 'ui'. We have separate forums for each Activiti component now, see http://forums.activiti.org/en/index.php

Re: Running shell script from Activiti

ronald_van_kuij — Thu, 13 Jan 2011 23:15:44 GMT

We started working on this one… An important question is how the parameters to commands should be passed on. (java exec does not match to os level)
We could do two things. String parsing of a full command and params. Or a separte command field and one or more param fields.
If we go for the former, I propose to use something like
- a space is a separator between params
- " or ' around something means it may contain spaces
- \ before a space means it should be treated as part of a parameter

Some other questions:
- do we need the ability to set environment properties?
- do we do someting with the return value?
- do we do something with the output of the command (if at stdout)

Re: Running shell script from Activiti

jbarrez — Fri, 14 Jan 2011 09:22:44 GMT

Ronald, could you give some examples of how the xml would look like?

I think capturing the return result is valid, as it allows to check on success or failure.
Capturing the output doesnt seem very important to me.

Re: Running shell script from Activiti

smirzai — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 20:46:38 GMT

what happened to this topic ? Is it implemented, forgotten or impossible ?

Re: Running shell script from Activiti

ronald_van_kuij — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 11:12:38 GMT

we had a simple internal poc, nothing advanced/production ready but the internal project 'stopped' unfortunately. Not sure if I can find the code…

Re: Running shell script from Activiti

smirzai — Tue, 16 Jul 2013 13:25:09 GMT

Just for future probable readers. The feature is implemented.
http://jira.codehaus.org/browse/ACT-461

Re: Running shell script from Activiti

bogdartysh — Wed, 18 May 2016 14:58:41 GMT

that link does not work any longer…
is there a new one or some specs on the matter?

Re: Running shell script from Activiti

jbarrez — Wed, 18 May 2016 17:04:46 GMT

The shell task was implemented and is part of the engine. Check the user guide for more info.