Can't run activiti WF Alfresco 4.2.c, NullPointerException

[koopa]

After a succesful deploy of my custom Workflow, when I start it from Share it says it cannot start.
Share log says:
<blockcode>
09:53:12,615 ERROR [org.springframework.extensions.webscripts.AbstractRuntime] Exception from executeScript - redirecting to status template error: 01200000 Wrapped Exception (with status template): null
org.springframework.extensions.webscripts.WebScriptException: 01200000 Wrapped Exception (with status template): null
   at org.springframework.extensions.webscripts.AbstractWebScript.createStatusException(AbstractWebScript.java:1067)
   at org.springframework.extensions.webscripts.DeclarativeWebScript.execute(DeclarativeWebScript.java:171)
   at org.springframework.extensions.webscripts.PresentationContainer.executeScript(PresentationContainer.java:70)
   at org.springframework.extensions.webscripts.LocalWebScriptRuntimeContainer.executeScript(LocalWebScriptRuntimeContainer.java:240)
   at org.springframework.extensions.webscripts.AbstractRuntime.executeScript(AbstractRuntime.java:377)
   at org.springframework.extensions.webscripts.AbstractRuntime.executeScript(AbstractRuntime.java:209)
   at org.springframework.extensions.webscripts.servlet.mvc.WebScriptView.renderMergedOutputModel(WebScriptView.java:104)
   at org.springframework.web.servlet.view.AbstractView.render(AbstractView.java:250)
   at org.springframework.web.servlet.DispatcherServlet.render(DispatcherServlet.java:1047)
   at org.springframework.web.servlet.DispatcherServlet.doDispatch(DispatcherServlet.java:817)
   at org.springframework.web.servlet.DispatcherServlet.doService(DispatcherServlet.java:719)
   at org.springframework.web.servlet.FrameworkServlet.processRequest(FrameworkServlet.java:644)
   at org.springframework.web.servlet.FrameworkServlet.doGet(FrameworkServlet.java:549)
   at javax.servlet.http.HttpServlet.service(HttpServlet.java:621)
   at javax.servlet.http.HttpServlet.service(HttpServlet.java:728)
   at org.apache.catalina.core.ApplicationFilterChain.internalDoFilter(ApplicationFilterChain.java:305)
   at org.apache.catalina.core.ApplicationFilterChain.doFilter(ApplicationFilterChain.java:210)
   at org.apache.catalina.core.ApplicationDispatcher.invoke(ApplicationDispatcher.java:749)
   at org.apache.catalina.core.ApplicationDispatcher.processRequest(ApplicationDispatcher.java:487)
   at org.apache.catalina.core.ApplicationDispatcher.doForward(ApplicationDispatcher.java:412)
   at org.apache.catalina.core.ApplicationDispatcher.forward(ApplicationDispatcher.java:339)
   at org.tuckey.web.filters.urlrewrite.NormalRewrittenUrl.doRewrite(NormalRewrittenUrl.java:195)
   at org.tuckey.web.filters.urlrewrite.RuleChain.handleRewrite(RuleChain.java:159)
   at org.tuckey.web.filters.urlrewrite.RuleChain.doRules(RuleChain.java:141)
   at org.tuckey.web.filters.urlrewrite.UrlRewriter.processRequest(UrlRewriter.java:90)
   at org.tuckey.web.filters.urlrewrite.UrlRewriteFilter.doFilter(UrlRewriteFilter.java:417)
   at org.apache.catalina.core.ApplicationFilterChain.internalDoFilter(ApplicationFilterChain.java:243)
   at org.apache.catalina.core.ApplicationFilterChain.doFilter(ApplicationFilterChain.java:210)
   at org.apache.catalina.core.StandardWrapperValve.invoke(StandardWrapperValve.java:222)
   at org.apache.catalina.core.StandardContextValve.invoke(StandardContextValve.java:123)
   at org.apache.catalina.authenticator.AuthenticatorBase.invoke(AuthenticatorBase.java:472)
   at org.apache.catalina.core.StandardHostValve.invoke(StandardHostValve.java:171)
   at org.apache.catalina.valves.ErrorReportValve.invoke(ErrorReportValve.java:99)
   at org.apache.catalina.valves.AccessLogValve.invoke(AccessLogValve.java:936)
   at org.apache.catalina.core.StandardEngineValve.invoke(StandardEngineValve.java:118)
   at org.apache.catalina.connector.CoyoteAdapter.service(CoyoteAdapter.java:407)
   at org.apache.coyote.http11.AbstractHttp11Processor.process(AbstractHttp11Processor.java:1004)
   at org.apache.coyote.AbstractProtocol$AbstractConnectionHandler.process(AbstractProtocol.java:589)
   at org.apache.tomcat.util.net.AprEndpoint$SocketProcessor.run(AprEndpoint.java:1822)
   at java.util.concurrent.ThreadPoolExecutor.runWorker(ThreadPoolExecutor.java:1145)
   at java.util.concurrent.ThreadPoolExecutor$Worker.run(ThreadPoolExecutor.java:615)
   at java.lang.Thread.run(Thread.java:722)
Caused by: java.lang.NullPointerException
   at org.alfresco.web.scripts.forms.FormUIGet.processFieldConstraintControl(FormUIGet.java:1956)
   at org.alfresco.web.scripts.forms.FormUIGet.generateConstraintModel(FormUIGet.java:1816)
   at org.alfresco.web.scripts.forms.FormUIGet.processFieldConstraints(FormUIGet.java:1701)
   at org.alfresco.web.scripts.forms.FormUIGet.generateFieldModel(FormUIGet.java:1315)
   at org.alfresco.web.scripts.forms.FormUIGet.generateDefaultSetModelUsingServerFields(FormUIGet.java:1255)
   at org.alfresco.web.scripts.forms.FormUIGet.processServerFields(FormUIGet.java:1117)
   at org.alfresco.web.scripts.forms.FormUIGet.processFields(FormUIGet.java:1058)
   at org.alfresco.web.scripts.forms.FormUIGet.generateFormUIModel(FormUIGet.java:666)
   at org.alfresco.web.scripts.forms.FormUIGet.generateFormModel(FormUIGet.java:609)
   at org.alfresco.web.scripts.forms.FormUIGet.generateModel(FormUIGet.java:265)
   at org.alfresco.web.scripts.forms.FormUIGet.executeImpl(FormUIGet.java:220)
   at org.springframework.extensions.webscripts.DeclarativeWebScript.execute(DeclarativeWebScript.java:64)
   … 40 more
</blockcode>
Don't know where to go… Just one thing that may be particular in what I do, I don't use a custom model, my activiti process refers to built-in tasks already living in alfresco/classes/workflow/workflowModel.xml. To be explicit, this is my context file:

<?xml version='1.0' encoding='UTF-8'?><!DOCTYPE beans PUBLIC '-//SPRING//DTD BEAN//EN' 'http://www.springframework.org/dtd/spring-beans.dtd'><beans>  <bean id="epWorkflowBootstrap" parent="workflowDeployer">          <property name="workflowDefinitions">      <list>   <props>     <prop key="engineId">activiti</prop>     <prop key="location">alfresco/workflow/epCheckAndApprove.bpmn.xml</prop>     <prop key="mimetype">text/xml</prop>                   <prop key="redeploy">true</prop>   </props>      </list>    </property>          <property name="models">      <list>        <value>alfresco/workflow/workflowModel.xml</value>      </list>    </property>       <property name="labels">      <list>   <value>alfresco/workflow/workflow-messages</value>      </list>    </property>  </bean></beans>‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍

Where is the problem? In the process definition? In the context file?

Any help appreciated!

[koopa]

It seems like it'the same error presented in these threads, <a href="http://forums.alfresco.com/forum/developer-discussions/content-modeling/constraints-create-bug-01312..." >here</a> and <a href="http://forums.alfresco.com/forum/end-user-discussions/alfresco-share/redering-custom-model-broken-42...">here</a>. Ther is also an open <a href="https://issues.alfresco.com/jira/browse/ALF-17730?page=com.googlecode.jira-suite-utilities:transitio...">issue on JIRA</a>.
But I am a little surprised because in my case I'm not using custom model at all. Simply the workflowModel already living in alfresco/workflow.
Anyone? In the meantime I'll try to figure it out how to customize the form, maybe via share-custom-config file. Don't know if it's the right way.

[mstein]

You shouldn't need the model property if you're using the oob model, they are already there. Can you post your workflow.xml?

[koopa]

Thank you mstein for the answer, this is the process definition:
<blockcode>
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<definitions xmlns="http://www.omg.org/spec/BPMN/20100524/MODEL" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance" xmlns:activiti="http://activiti.org/bpmn" xmlns:bpmndi="http://www.omg.org/spec/BPMN/20100524/DI" xmlnsmgdc="http://www.omg.org/spec/DD/20100524/DC" xmlnsmgdi="http://www.omg.org/spec/DD/20100524/DI" typeLanguage="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema" expressionLanguage="http://www.w3.org/1999/XPath" targetNamespace="http://www.activiti.org/test">
  <process id="EPsendMail" name="Processo invio mail E-Project" isExecutable="true">
    <startEvent id="alfrescoStart" name="Alfresco start" activiti:formKey="wf:submitAdhocTask"></startEvent>
    <serviceTask id="sendMail" name="Alfresco Mail Task" activiti:class="org.alfresco.repo.workflow.activiti.script.AlfrescoScriptDelegate">
      <extensionElements>
        <activiti:field name="script">
          <activiti:string>var mail = actions.create("mail");
mail.execute(bpm_package);</activiti:string>
        </activiti:field>
        <activiti:field name="mail.parameters.to">
          <activiti:string>me@secservizi.it</activiti:string>
        </activiti:field>
        <activiti:field name="mail.parameters.from">
          <activiti:string>koopa@localalfresco.it</activiti:string>
        </activiti:field>
        <activiti:field name="mail.parameters.subject">
          <activiti:string>Bim bum bam</activiti:string>
        </activiti:field>
        <activiti:field name="mail.parameters.html">
          <activiti:string>Try try try</activiti:string>
        </activiti:field>
      </extensionElements>
    </serviceTask>
    <endEvent id="endevent1" name="End"></endEvent>
    <sequenceFlow id="flow1" sourceRef="sendMail" targetRef="endevent1"></sequenceFlow>
    <sequenceFlow id="flow2" sourceRef="alfrescoStart" targetRef="sendMail"></sequenceFlow>
  </process>
  <bpmndi:BPMNDiagram id="BPMNDiagram_EPsendMail">
    <bpmndi:BPMNPlane bpmnElement="EPsendMail" id="BPMNPlane_EPsendMail">
      <bpmndi:BPMNShape bpmnElement="alfrescoStart" id="BPMNShape_alfrescoStart">
        <omgdc:Bounds height="35.0" width="35.0" x="180.0" y="310.0"></omgdc:Bounds>
      </bpmndi:BPMNShape>
      <bpmndi:BPMNShape bpmnElement="sendMail" id="BPMNShape_sendMail">
        <omgdc:Bounds height="55.0" width="105.0" x="260.0" y="300.0"></omgdc:Bounds>
      </bpmndi:BPMNShape>
      <bpmndi:BPMNShape bpmnElement="endevent1" id="BPMNShape_endevent1">
        <omgdc:Bounds height="35.0" width="35.0" x="420.0" y="310.0"></omgdc:Bounds>
      </bpmndi:BPMNShape>
      <bpmndi:BPMNEdge bpmnElement="flow1" id="BPMNEdge_flow1">
        <omgdi:waypoint x="365.0" y="327.0"></omgdi:waypoint>
        <omgdi:waypoint x="420.0" y="327.0"></omgdi:waypoint>
      </bpmndi:BPMNEdge>
      <bpmndi:BPMNEdge bpmnElement="flow2" id="BPMNEdge_flow2">
        <omgdi:waypoint x="215.0" y="327.0"></omgdi:waypoint>
        <omgdi:waypoint x="260.0" y="327.0"></omgdi:waypoint>
      </bpmndi:BPMNEdge>
    </bpmndi:BPMNPlane>
  </bpmndi:BPMNDiagram>
</definitions>
</blockcode>
as you can see it is absolutely straightforward. I simplified it the most just to see if I can use it. But I can't even trying to start a wf instance from the workflow console.

[koopa]

I tried to start from a clean space, so I started a new tomcat with fresh alfresco and share war on a fresh new db but the result is the same. Created process with eclipse activiti designer, created my custom context file to make the new process visible, linking it to alfresco/workflow/workflowModel.xml, started tomcat, launched wf via UI… fail.
But I did a step forward, I can now start it from the wf console and really see the detail wf form once started. This is my new baby-written process:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><definitions xmlns="http://www.omg.org/spec/BPMN/20100524/MODEL" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance" xmlns:activiti="http://activiti.org/bpmn" xmlns:bpmndi="http://www.omg.org/spec/BPMN/20100524/DI" xmlns:omgdc="http://www.omg.org/spec/DD/20100524/DC" xmlns:omgdi="http://www.omg.org/spec/DD/20100524/DI" typeLanguage="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema" expressionLanguage="http://www.w3.org/1999/XPath" targetNamespace="http://www.activiti.org/test">  <process id="semplice" name="Processo di prova" isExecutable="true">    <startEvent id="start" name="Alfresco start" activiti:formKey="wf:submitAdhocTask"></startEvent>    <userTask id="userTask" name="Alfresco User Task" activiti:candidateGroups="commerciali" activiti:formKey="wf:adhocTask"></userTask>    <endEvent id="endevent1" name="End"></endEvent>    <sequenceFlow id="flow1" sourceRef="userTask" targetRef="endevent1"></sequenceFlow>    <sequenceFlow id="flow2" sourceRef="start" targetRef="userTask"></sequenceFlow>  </process>  <bpmndi:BPMNDiagram id="BPMNDiagram_semplice">    <bpmndi:BPMNPlane bpmnElement="semplice" id="BPMNPlane_semplice">      <bpmndi:BPMNShape bpmnElement="start" id="BPMNShape_start">        <omgdc:Bounds height="35.0" width="35.0" x="140.0" y="290.0"></omgdc:Bounds>      </bpmndi:BPMNShape>      <bpmndi:BPMNShape bpmnElement="userTask" id="BPMNShape_userTask">        <omgdc:Bounds height="55.0" width="105.0" x="220.0" y="280.0"></omgdc:Bounds>      </bpmndi:BPMNShape>      <bpmndi:BPMNShape bpmnElement="endevent1" id="BPMNShape_endevent1">        <omgdc:Bounds height="35.0" width="35.0" x="380.0" y="290.0"></omgdc:Bounds>      </bpmndi:BPMNShape>      <bpmndi:BPMNEdge bpmnElement="flow1" id="BPMNEdge_flow1">        <omgdi:waypoint x="325.0" y="307.0"></omgdi:waypoint>        <omgdi:waypoint x="380.0" y="307.0"></omgdi:waypoint>      </bpmndi:BPMNEdge>      <bpmndi:BPMNEdge bpmnElement="flow2" id="BPMNEdge_flow2">        <omgdi:waypoint x="175.0" y="307.0"></omgdi:waypoint>        <omgdi:waypoint x="220.0" y="307.0"></omgdi:waypoint>      </bpmndi:BPMNEdge>    </bpmndi:BPMNPlane>  </bpmndi:BPMNDiagram></definitions>‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍

[koopa]

Copy-Pasted both processes on 4.2.b and they work.

[bprado]

I had exactly the same problem. Same solution as well, thank you.

[nyorai]

I had exactly the same problem, just starting out learning Alfresco and spent a whole weekend scratching my head. Turns out I wasn't doing anything wrong after all! 4.2b works fine.