Java Bean Variable not visible to bpmn expressions

[arihant_banthia]

Hi, I am new to Activiti and i am trying to pass a Java bean object variable using setVariable() method. When I try to call a getter method in bpmn expression it doesn't display the value in Activiti UI but i am able to retrieve the same variable using the getVariable() method. Can you please tell me what I am doing wrong?

Here is the BPMN task where I specify the variable:

 <startEvent id="startevent1" name="Start" activiti:initiator="employeeName">
      <extensionElements>
        <activiti:formProperty id="roleName" name="Role" type="string" required="true"></activiti:formProperty>
        <activiti:formProperty id="manager" name="Manager" type="string" required="true"></activiti:formProperty>
        <activiti:formProperty id="roleInfo" name="Role Info" variable="roleInfo"></activiti:formProperty>
      </extensionElements>
    </startEvent>
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Variable call in Workflow:

<activiti:formProperty id="roleType" name="Role Type" type="string" expression="${roleInfo.getIdentifier()}" variable="${roleInfo}" writable="false"></activiti:formProperty>
‍‍‍

I pass this variable using the following code:

                EntityInfo entityInfo = new EntityInfo();
      entityInfo.setIdentifier("TDM_Role");
      entityInfo.setOid("Role-oid");
      entityInfo.setRequestable(true);
      runtimeService.setVariable(processInstance.getId(), "roleInfo", entityInfo);
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<b>Note:</b> I am using StandaloneProcessEngineConfiguration.

[jbarrez]

Why are you using the form properties here? Are you using explorer somehow with a custom form property type?

If you set the variable like that, you will be able to retrieve it using runtimeService.getVariable(), but if you want to use it with form properties, you need custom form properties…

[arihant_banthia]

I was using the activiti explorer only. So I found the solution by declaring the custom bean "roleInfo" in "\webapps\activiti-explorer\WEB-INF\activiti-standalone-context.xml".
<blockcode>
<bean id="roleInfo" class="com.confluxsys.DemoCertification.RoleDTO" />
</blockcode>
Is it the correct way to do it ?

[yvoswillens]

The bean has be known by the Spring Context. So for the Activiti Explorer this could be done the way you did it.

[arihant_banthia]

Is there a better way to do it as over time my implementation might change and it may be difficult to keep a track of all the variables and their implementing classes?

Thanks in advance

[jbarrez]

Not if you want to use pojo's as process variables. An alternative is using primitive values here instead of objects.

[arihant_banthia]

Hi,
Thanks for the info. It helped a lot.