org.activiti.engine.ActivitiIllegalArgumentException: unknown type 'user' approver

[logicallimit]

May 06, 2016 9:07:29 PM org.activiti.engine.impl.bpmn.deployer.BpmnDeployer deploy
INFO: Processing resource org/activiti/explorer/demo/process/createTimersProcess.bpmn20.xml
May 06, 2016 9:07:29 PM org.activiti.engine.impl.bpmn.deployer.BpmnDeployer deploy
INFO: Processing resource org/activiti/explorer/demo/process/FixSystemFailureProcess.bpmn20.xml
May 06, 2016 9:07:29 PM org.activiti.engine.impl.bpmn.deployer.BpmnDeployer deploy
INFO: Processing resource org/activiti/explorer/demo/process/simple-approval.bpmn20.xml
May 06, 2016 9:07:29 PM org.springframework.transaction.support.TransactionSynchronizationUtils invokeAfterCompletion
SEVERE: TransactionSynchronization.afterCompletion threw exception
org.activiti.engine.ActivitiIllegalArgumentException: unknown type 'user' approver
   at org.activiti.engine.impl.form.FormTypes.parseFormPropertyType(FormTypes.java:55)
   at org.activiti.engine.impl.form.DefaultFormHandler.parseConfiguration(DefaultFormHandler.java:61)
   at org.activiti.engine.impl.form.DefaultStartFormHandler.parseConfiguration(DefaultStartFormHandler.java:34)
   at org.activiti.engine.impl.bpmn.parser.handler.StartEventParseHandler.createStartFormHandlers(StartEventParseHandler.java:84)
   at org.activiti.engine.impl.bpmn.parser.handler.StartEventParseHandler.executeParse(StartEventParseHandler.java:58)
   at org.activiti.engine.impl.bpmn.parser.handler.StartEventParseHandler.executeParse(StartEventParseHandler.java:38)
   at org.activiti.engine.impl.bpmn.parser.handler.AbstractBpmnParseHandler.parse(AbstractBpmnParseHandler.java:81)
   at org.activiti.engine.impl.bpmn.parser.handler.AbstractFlowNodeBpmnParseHandler.parse(AbstractFlowNodeBpmnParseHandler.java:27)
   at org.activiti.engine.impl.bpmn.parser.handler.AbstractActivityBpmnParseHandler.parse(AbstractActivityBpmnParseHandler.java:36)
   at org.activiti.engine.impl.bpmn.parser.BpmnParseHandlers.parseElement(BpmnParseHandlers.java:79)
   at org.activiti.engine.impl.bpmn.parser.BpmnParse.processFlowElements(BpmnParse.java:440)
   at org.activiti.engine.impl.bpmn.parser.handler.ProcessParseHandler.transformProcess(ProcessParseHandler.java:88)
   at org.activiti.engine.impl.bpmn.parser.handler.ProcessParseHandler.executeParse(ProcessParseHandler.java:49)
   at org.activiti.engine.impl.bpmn.parser.handler.ProcessParseHandler.executeParse(ProcessParseHandler.java:35)
   at org.activiti.engine.impl.bpmn.parser.handler.AbstractBpmnParseHandler.parse(AbstractBpmnParseHandler.java:81)
   at org.activiti.engine.impl.bpmn.parser.BpmnParseHandlers.parseElement(BpmnParseHandlers.java:79)
   at org.activiti.engine.impl.bpmn.parser.BpmnParse.transformProcessDefinitions(BpmnParse.java:400)
   at org.activiti.engine.impl.bpmn.parser.BpmnParse.execute(BpmnParse.java:233)
   at org.activiti.engine.impl.bpmn.deployer.BpmnDeployer.deploy(BpmnDeployer.java:133)
   at org.activiti.engine.impl.persistence.deploy.DeploymentManager.deploy(DeploymentManager.java:58)
   at org.activiti.engine.impl.persistence.deploy.DeploymentManager.resolveProcessDefinition(DeploymentManager.java:165)
   at org.activiti.engine.impl.persistence.deploy.DeploymentManager.findDeployedProcessDefinitionById(DeploymentManager.java:77)
   at org.activiti.engine.impl.persistence.entity.ExecutionEntity.ensureProcessDefinitionInitialized(ExecutionEntity.java:796)
   at org.activiti.engine.impl.persistence.entity.ExecutionEntity.getProcessDefinition(ExecutionEntity.java:746)
   at org.activiti.engine.impl.cmd.JobRetryCmd.getCurrentActivity(JobRetryCmd.java:153)
   at org.activiti.engine.impl.cmd.JobRetryCmd.execute(JobRetryCmd.java:69)
   at org.activiti.engine.impl.interceptor.CommandInvoker.execute(CommandInvoker.java:24)
   at org.activiti.engine.impl.interceptor.CommandContextInterceptor.execute(CommandContextInterceptor.java:57)
   at org.activiti.spring.SpringTransactionInterceptor$1.doInTransaction(SpringTransactionInterceptor.java:47)
   at org.springframework.transaction.support.TransactionTemplate.execute(TransactionTemplate.java:133)
   at org.activiti.spring.SpringTransactionInterceptor.execute(SpringTransactionInterceptor.java:45)
   at org.activiti.engine.impl.interceptor.LogInterceptor.execute(LogInterceptor.java:31)
   at org.activiti.engine.impl.cfg.CommandExecutorImpl.execute(CommandExecutorImpl.java:40)
   at org.activiti.engine.impl.jobexecutor.FailedJobListener.execute(FailedJobListener.java:47)
   at org.activiti.spring.SpringTransactionContext$4.afterCompletion(SpringTransactionContext.java:97)
   at org.springframework.transaction.support.TransactionSynchronizationUtils.invokeAfterCompletion(TransactionSynchronizationUtils.java:168)
   at org.springframework.transaction.support.AbstractPlatformTransactionManager.invokeAfterCompletion(AbstractPlatformTransactionManager.java:997)
   at org.springframework.transaction.support.AbstractPlatformTransactionManager.triggerAfterCompletion(AbstractPlatformTransactionManager.java:972)
   at org.springframework.transaction.support.AbstractPlatformTransactionManager.processRollback(AbstractPlatformTransactionManager.java:876)
   at org.springframework.transaction.support.AbstractPlatformTransactionManager.rollback(AbstractPlatformTransactionManager.java:826)
   at org.springframework.transaction.support.TransactionTemplate.rollbackOnException(TransactionTemplate.java:164)
   at org.springframework.transaction.support.TransactionTemplate.execute(TransactionTemplate.java:137)
   at org.activiti.spring.SpringTransactionInterceptor.execute(SpringTransactionInterceptor.java:45)
   at org.activiti.engine.impl.interceptor.LogInterceptor.execute(LogInterceptor.java:31)
   at org.activiti.engine.impl.cfg.CommandExecutorImpl.execute(CommandExecutorImpl.java:40)
   at org.activiti.engine.impl.cfg.CommandExecutorImpl.execute(CommandExecutorImpl.java:35)
   at org.activiti.engine.impl.jobexecutor.ExecuteJobsRunnable.handleMultipleJobs(ExecuteJobsRunnable.java:94)
   at org.activiti.engine.impl.jobexecutor.ExecuteJobsRunnable.run(ExecuteJobsRunnable.java:49)
   at java.util.concurrent.ThreadPoolExecutor.runWorker(Unknown Source)
   at java.util.concurrent.ThreadPoolExecutor$Worker.run(Unknown Source)
   at java.lang.Thread.run(Unknown Source)

May 06, 2016 9:07:29 PM org.activiti.engine.impl.jobexecutor.ExecuteJobsRunnable handleMultipleJobs
SEVERE: exception during job execution: unknown type 'user' approver
org.activiti.engine.ActivitiIllegalArgumentException: unknown type 'user' approver
   at org.activiti.engine.impl.form.FormTypes.parseFormPropertyType(FormTypes.java:55)
   at org.activiti.engine.impl.form.DefaultFormHandler.parseConfiguration(DefaultFormHandler.java:61)
   at org.activiti.engine.impl.form.DefaultStartFormHandler.parseConfiguration(DefaultStartFormHandler.java:34)
   at org.activiti.engine.impl.bpmn.parser.handler.StartEventParseHandler.createStartFormHandlers(StartEventParseHandler.java:84)
   at org.activiti.engine.impl.bpmn.parser.handler.StartEventParseHandler.executeParse(StartEventParseHandler.java:58)
   at org.activiti.engine.impl.bpmn.parser.handler.StartEventParseHandler.executeParse(StartEventParseHandler.java:38)
   at org.activiti.engine.impl.bpmn.parser.handler.AbstractBpmnParseHandler.parse(AbstractBpmnParseHandler.java:81)
   at org.activiti.engine.impl.bpmn.parser.handler.AbstractFlowNodeBpmnParseHandler.parse(AbstractFlowNodeBpmnParseHandler.java:27)
   at org.activiti.engine.impl.bpmn.parser.handler.AbstractActivityBpmnParseHandler.parse(AbstractActivityBpmnParseHandler.java:36)
   at org.activiti.engine.impl.bpmn.parser.BpmnParseHandlers.parseElement(BpmnParseHandlers.java:79)
   at org.activiti.engine.impl.bpmn.parser.BpmnParse.processFlowElements(BpmnParse.java:440)
   at org.activiti.engine.impl.bpmn.parser.handler.ProcessParseHandler.transformProcess(ProcessParseHandler.java:88)
   at org.activiti.engine.impl.bpmn.parser.handler.ProcessParseHandler.executeParse(ProcessParseHandler.java:49)
   at org.activiti.engine.impl.bpmn.parser.handler.ProcessParseHandler.executeParse(ProcessParseHandler.java:35)
   at org.activiti.engine.impl.bpmn.parser.handler.AbstractBpmnParseHandler.parse(AbstractBpmnParseHandler.java:81)
   at org.activiti.engine.impl.bpmn.parser.BpmnParseHandlers.parseElement(BpmnParseHandlers.java:79)
   at org.activiti.engine.impl.bpmn.parser.BpmnParse.transformProcessDefinitions(BpmnParse.java:400)
   at org.activiti.engine.impl.bpmn.parser.BpmnParse.execute(BpmnParse.java:233)
   at org.activiti.engine.impl.bpmn.deployer.BpmnDeployer.deploy(BpmnDeployer.java:133)
   at org.activiti.engine.impl.persistence.deploy.DeploymentManager.deploy(DeploymentManager.java:58)
   at org.activiti.engine.impl.persistence.deploy.DeploymentManager.resolveProcessDefinition(DeploymentManager.java:165)
   at org.activiti.engine.impl.persistence.deploy.DeploymentManager.findDeployedProcessDefinitionById(DeploymentManager.java:77)
   at org.activiti.engine.impl.cmd.GetDeploymentProcessDefinitionCmd.execute(GetDeploymentProcessDefinitionCmd.java:39)
   at org.activiti.engine.impl.cmd.GetDeploymentProcessDefinitionCmd.execute(GetDeploymentProcessDefinitionCmd.java:26)
   at org.activiti.engine.impl.interceptor.CommandInvoker.execute(CommandInvoker.java:24)
   at org.activiti.engine.impl.interceptor.CommandContextInterceptor.execute(CommandContextInterceptor.java:57)
   at org.activiti.spring.SpringTransactionInterceptor$1.doInTransaction(SpringTransactionInterceptor.java:47)
   at org.springframework.transaction.support.TransactionTemplate.execute(TransactionTemplate.java:133)
   at org.activiti.spring.SpringTransactionInterceptor.execute(SpringTransactionInterceptor.java:45)
   at org.activiti.engine.impl.interceptor.LogInterceptor.execute(LogInterceptor.java:31)
   at org.activiti.engine.impl.cfg.CommandExecutorImpl.execute(CommandExecutorImpl.java:40)
   at org.activiti.engine.impl.cfg.CommandExecutorImpl.execute(CommandExecutorImpl.java:35)
   at org.activiti.engine.impl.RepositoryServiceImpl.getProcessDefinition(RepositoryServiceImpl.java:130)
   at org.activiti.engine.impl.persistence.entity.TimerEntity.restoreExtraData(TimerEntity.java:165)
   at org.activiti.engine.impl.persistence.entity.TimerEntity.execute(TimerEntity.java:85)
   at org.activiti.engine.impl.cmd.ExecuteJobsCmd.execute(ExecuteJobsCmd.java:88)
   at org.activiti.engine.impl.interceptor.CommandInvoker.execute(CommandInvoker.java:24)
   at org.activiti.engine.impl.interceptor.CommandContextInterceptor.execute(CommandContextInterceptor.java:57)
   at org.activiti.spring.SpringTransactionInterceptor$1.doInTransaction(SpringTransactionInterceptor.java:47)
   at org.springframework.transaction.support.TransactionTemplate.execute(TransactionTemplate.java:133)
   at org.activiti.spring.SpringTransactionInterceptor.execute(SpringTransactionInterceptor.java:45)
   at org.activiti.engine.impl.interceptor.LogInterceptor.execute(LogInterceptor.java:31)
   at org.activiti.engine.impl.cfg.CommandExecutorImpl.execute(CommandExecutorImpl.java:40)
   at org.activiti.engine.impl.cfg.CommandExecutorImpl.execute(CommandExecutorImpl.java:35)
   at org.activiti.engine.impl.jobexecutor.ExecuteJobsRunnable.handleMultipleJobs(ExecuteJobsRunnable.java:94)
   at org.activiti.engine.impl.jobexecutor.ExecuteJobsRunnable.run(ExecuteJobsRunnable.java:49)
   at java.util.concurrent.ThreadPoolExecutor.runWorker(Unknown Source)
   at java.util.concurrent.ThreadPoolExecutor$Worker.run(Unknown Source)
   at java.lang.Thread.run(Unknown Source)
================================================================

Can someone please let me know what went wrong.  I am using activiti 5.19.02

[vasile_dirla]

it seems in your start form you have a property named "approver" of type "user" but the formType "user" is unknown for the engine.

you should register this custom type as follows:
<code>
processEngineConfiguration.setCustomFormTypes(formTypes);
</code>

or with XML:

<code>
<bean id="processEngineConfiguration" class="…..">
  <property name="customFormTypes">
                    <list>
                        <bean class="<your UserFormType fully qualified class name>"/>
                    </list>
                </property>
</bean>
</code>

[logicallimit]

Thank you so much for the reply. I actually tried to look for what you mentioned in my process but did not find anything like that. But something went definitely wrong in my process definition. May be some wrong variable or something like that

To resolve this issue, I built the process from scratch again and tested it through my web application after adding every 2-3 steps. This way I was sure that process is right at least till this step. And went on building and testing it till end step by step. And finally got it executed without any issue.