Problem with the ProcessDefinition class

[rittmann]

While I was playing a little with the different engines in Activiti 5.13, I found a weird issue. I use spring to get the repository service. In my function, I have this code:

ProcessDefinition processDefinition;
try {
   processDefinition = repositoryService.getProcessDefinition(id);
} catch (Exception e) {
   e.printStackTrace();
}

All goes fine with all process definitions, except when I try to recover by id the ones labelled as reports in the sample database. For them, I get this exception:

org.activiti.engine.ActivitiIllegalArgumentException: unknown type 'processDefinition' processDefinition
   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:79)
   at org.activiti.engine.impl.bpmn.parser.handler.StartEventParseHandler.executeParse(StartEventParseHandler.java:53)
   at org.activiti.engine.impl.bpmn.parser.handler.StartEventParseHandler.executeParse(StartEventParseHandler.java:35)
   at org.activiti.engine.impl.bpmn.parser.handler.AbstractBpmnParseHandler.parse(AbstractBpmnParseHandler.java:79)
   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:35)
   at org.activiti.engine.impl.bpmn.parser.BpmnParseHandlers.parseElement(BpmnParseHandlers.java:73)
   at org.activiti.engine.impl.bpmn.parser.BpmnParse.processFlowElements(BpmnParse.java:405)
   at org.activiti.engine.impl.bpmn.parser.handler.ProcessParseHandler.transformProcess(ProcessParseHandler.java:82)
   at org.activiti.engine.impl.bpmn.parser.handler.ProcessParseHandler.executeParse(ProcessParseHandler.java:44)
   at org.activiti.engine.impl.bpmn.parser.handler.ProcessParseHandler.executeParse(ProcessParseHandler.java:30)
   at org.activiti.engine.impl.bpmn.parser.handler.AbstractBpmnParseHandler.parse(AbstractBpmnParseHandler.java:79)
   at org.activiti.engine.impl.bpmn.parser.BpmnParseHandlers.parseElement(BpmnParseHandlers.java:73)
   at org.activiti.engine.impl.bpmn.parser.BpmnParse.transformProcessDefinitions(BpmnParse.java:366)
   at org.activiti.engine.impl.bpmn.parser.BpmnParse.execute(BpmnParse.java:190)
   at org.activiti.engine.impl.bpmn.deployer.BpmnDeployer.deploy(BpmnDeployer.java:86)
   at org.activiti.engine.impl.persistence.deploy.DeploymentManager.deploy(DeploymentManager.java:42)
   at org.activiti.engine.impl.persistence.deploy.DeploymentManager.resolveProcessDefinition(DeploymentManager.java:95)
   at org.activiti.engine.impl.persistence.deploy.DeploymentManager.findDeployedProcessDefinitionById(DeploymentManager.java:57)
   at org.activiti.engine.impl.cmd.GetDeploymentProcessDefinitionCmd.execute(GetDeploymentProcessDefinitionCmd.java:37)
   at org.activiti.engine.impl.cmd.GetDeploymentProcessDefinitionCmd.execute(GetDeploymentProcessDefinitionCmd.java:27)
   at org.activiti.engine.impl.interceptor.CommandExecutorImpl.execute(CommandExecutorImpl.java:24)
   at org.activiti.engine.impl.interceptor.CommandContextInterceptor.execute(CommandContextInterceptor.java:61)
   at org.activiti.spring.SpringTransactionInterceptor$1.doInTransaction(SpringTransactionInterceptor.java:42)
   at org.springframework.transaction.support.TransactionTemplate.execute(TransactionTemplate.java:131)
   at org.activiti.spring.SpringTransactionInterceptor.execute(SpringTransactionInterceptor.java:40)
   at org.activiti.engine.impl.interceptor.LogInterceptor.execute(LogInterceptor.java:37)
   at org.activiti.engine.impl.RepositoryServiceImpl.getProcessDefinition(RepositoryServiceImpl.java:117)
   at ru.mdi.irmdev.bpm.action.tiles.process.ProcessDefinitionCard.execute(ProcessDefinitionCard.java:27)
   at sun.reflect.NativeMethodAccessorImpl.invoke0(Native Method)
   at sun.reflect.NativeMethodAccessorImpl.invoke(NativeMethodAccessorImpl.java:39)
   at sun.reflect.DelegatingMethodAccessorImpl.invoke(DelegatingMethodAccessorImpl.java:25)
   at java.lang.reflect.Method.invoke(Method.java:597)
   at com.opensymphony.xwork2.DefaultActionInvocation.invokeAction(DefaultActionInvocation.java:450)
   at com.opensymphony.xwork2.DefaultActionInvocation.invokeActionOnly(DefaultActionInvocation.java:289)
   at com.opensymphony.xwork2.DefaultActionInvocation.invoke(DefaultActionInvocation.java:252)
   at org.apache.struts2.interceptor.debugging.DebuggingInterceptor.intercept(DebuggingInterceptor.java:256)
   at com.opensymphony.xwork2.DefaultActionInvocation.invoke(DefaultActionInvocation.java:246)
   at com.opensymphony.xwork2.interceptor.DefaultWorkflowInterceptor.doIntercept(DefaultWorkflowInterceptor.java:167)
   at com.opensymphony.xwork2.interceptor.MethodFilterInterceptor.intercept(MethodFilterInterceptor.java:98)
   at com.opensymphony.xwork2.DefaultActionInvocation.invoke(DefaultActionInvocation.java:246)
   at com.opensymphony.xwork2.validator.ValidationInterceptor.doIntercept(ValidationInterceptor.java:265)
   at org.apache.struts2.interceptor.validation.AnnotationValidationInterceptor.doIntercept(AnnotationValidationInterceptor.java:68)
   at com.opensymphony.xwork2.interceptor.MethodFilterInterceptor.intercept(MethodFilterInterceptor.java:98)
   at com.opensymphony.xwork2.DefaultActionInvocation.invoke(DefaultActionInvocation.java:246)
   at com.opensymphony.xwork2.interceptor.ConversionErrorInterceptor.intercept(ConversionErrorInterceptor.java:138)
   at com.opensymphony.xwork2.DefaultActionInvocation.invoke(DefaultActionInvocation.java:246)
   at com.opensymphony.xwork2.interceptor.ParametersInterceptor.doIntercept(ParametersInterceptor.java:239)
   at com.opensymphony.xwork2.interceptor.MethodFilterInterceptor.intercept(MethodFilterInterceptor.java:98)
   at com.opensymphony.xwork2.DefaultActionInvocation.invoke(DefaultActionInvocation.java:246)
   at com.opensymphony.xwork2.interceptor.ParametersInterceptor.doIntercept(ParametersInterceptor.java:239)
   at com.opensymphony.xwork2.interceptor.MethodFilterInterceptor.intercept(MethodFilterInterceptor.java:98)
   at com.opensymphony.xwork2.DefaultActionInvocation.invoke(DefaultActionInvocation.java:246)
   at com.opensymphony.xwork2.interceptor.StaticParametersInterceptor.intercept(StaticParametersInterceptor.java:191)
   at com.opensymphony.xwork2.DefaultActionInvocation.invoke(DefaultActionInvocation.java:246)
   at org.apache.struts2.interceptor.MultiselectInterceptor.intercept(MultiselectInterceptor.java:73)
   at com.opensymphony.xwork2.DefaultActionInvocation.invoke(DefaultActionInvocation.java:246)
   at org.apache.struts2.interceptor.CheckboxInterceptor.intercept(CheckboxInterceptor.java:91)
   at com.opensymphony.xwork2.DefaultActionInvocation.invoke(DefaultActionInvocation.java:246)
   at org.apache.struts2.interceptor.FileUploadInterceptor.intercept(FileUploadInterceptor.java:252)
   at com.opensymphony.xwork2.DefaultActionInvocation.invoke(DefaultActionInvocation.java:246)
   at com.opensymphony.xwork2.interceptor.ModelDrivenInterceptor.intercept(ModelDrivenInterceptor.java:100)
   at com.opensymphony.xwork2.DefaultActionInvocation.invoke(DefaultActionInvocation.java:246)
   at com.opensymphony.xwork2.interceptor.ScopedModelDrivenInterceptor.intercept(ScopedModelDrivenInterceptor.java:141)
   at com.opensymphony.xwork2.DefaultActionInvocation.invoke(DefaultActionInvocation.java:246)
   at com.opensymphony.xwork2.interceptor.ChainingInterceptor.intercept(ChainingInterceptor.java:145)
   at com.opensymphony.xwork2.DefaultActionInvocation.invoke(DefaultActionInvocation.java:246)
   at com.opensymphony.xwork2.interceptor.PrepareInterceptor.doIntercept(PrepareInterceptor.java:171)
   at com.opensymphony.xwork2.interceptor.MethodFilterInterceptor.intercept(MethodFilterInterceptor.java:98)
   at com.opensymphony.xwork2.DefaultActionInvocation.invoke(DefaultActionInvocation.java:246)
   at com.opensymphony.xwork2.interceptor.I18nInterceptor.intercept(I18nInterceptor.java:161)
   at com.opensymphony.xwork2.DefaultActionInvocation.invoke(DefaultActionInvocation.java:246)
   at org.apache.struts2.interceptor.ServletConfigInterceptor.intercept(ServletConfigInterceptor.java:164)
   at com.opensymphony.xwork2.DefaultActionInvocation.invoke(DefaultActionInvocation.java:246)
   at com.opensymphony.xwork2.interceptor.AliasInterceptor.intercept(AliasInterceptor.java:193)
   at com.opensymphony.xwork2.DefaultActionInvocation.invoke(DefaultActionInvocation.java:246)
   at com.opensymphony.xwork2.interceptor.ExceptionMappingInterceptor.intercept(ExceptionMappingInterceptor.java:189)
   at com.opensymphony.xwork2.DefaultActionInvocation.invoke(DefaultActionInvocation.java:246)
   at org.apache.struts2.impl.StrutsActionProxy.execute(StrutsActionProxy.java:54)
   at org.apache.struts2.dispatcher.Dispatcher.serviceAction(Dispatcher.java:563)
   at org.apache.struts2.dispatcher.ng.ExecuteOperations.executeAction(ExecuteOperations.java:77)
   at org.apache.struts2.dispatcher.ng.filter.StrutsPrepareAndExecuteFilter.doFilter(StrutsPrepareAndExecuteFilter.java:99)
   at org.apache.catalina.core.ApplicationFilterChain.internalDoFilter(ApplicationFilterChain.java:243)
   at org.apache.catalina.core.ApplicationFilterChain.doFilter(ApplicationFilterChain.java:210)
   at org.springframework.web.filter.CharacterEncodingFilter.doFilterInternal(CharacterEncodingFilter.java:88)
   at org.springframework.web.filter.OncePerRequestFilter.doFilter(OncePerRequestFilter.java:107)
   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:240)
   at org.apache.catalina.core.StandardContextValve.invoke(StandardContextValve.java:164)
   at org.apache.catalina.authenticator.AuthenticatorBase.invoke(AuthenticatorBase.java:462)
   at org.apache.catalina.core.StandardHostValve.invoke(StandardHostValve.java:164)
   at org.apache.catalina.valves.ErrorReportValve.invoke(ErrorReportValve.java:100)
   at org.apache.catalina.valves.AccessLogValve.invoke(AccessLogValve.java:562)
   at org.apache.catalina.core.StandardEngineValve.invoke(StandardEngineValve.java:118)
   at org.apache.catalina.connector.CoyoteAdapter.service(CoyoteAdapter.java:395)
   at org.apache.coyote.http11.Http11Processor.process(Http11Processor.java:250)
   at org.apache.coyote.http11.Http11Protocol$Http11ConnectionHandler.process(Http11Protocol.java:188)
   at org.apache.coyote.http11.Http11Protocol$Http11ConnectionHandler.process(Http11Protocol.java:166)
   at org.apache.tomcat.util.net.JIoEndpoint$SocketProcessor.run(JIoEndpoint.java:302)
   at java.util.concurrent.ThreadPoolExecutor$Worker.runTask(ThreadPoolExecutor.java:886)
   at java.util.concurrent.ThreadPoolExecutor$Worker.run(ThreadPoolExecutor.java:908)
   at java.lang.Thread.run(Thread.java:662)

The process definitions that give me problems are all that are listed in the activiti-report category:

- Task duration report
- Employee productivity
- Helpdesk process: firstline vs escalated
- Process Instance Overview

Any ideas of what may be the cause of this issue?

[rittmann]

Investigating this issue, I created a workaround. It is not ideal, but at least gets the job done. Instead of performing a query through the repository service, I perform it using a query in the runtime service. Of course, this is far from ideal, since in a production environment it means to search the whole process definitions database - but then again, it will probably not be so huge as to cause a significant performance impact.

So in the try clause, I would write this line instead of the one above:

processDefinition = repositoryService.createProcessDefinitionQuery().processDefinitionId(id).list().get(0);

[trademak]

If you want to do something with the reporting process definitions, you have to make sure that the processDefinition form type is on the classpath. This form type is implemented in the Activiti Explorer. These reporting process definitions are there only as an example, so if they are causing issues, just delete/ignore them.

Best regards,

[rittmann]

Ok, I will give it a look later this week. Thanks for the orientation.