WEB-INF/lib .jar extensions updating problem

[michalwrobel]

After reading some alfresco blogs it seems to me that developing alfresco/share extensions as .jar files is desirable way in new releases (or maybe AMPs are still recommended in some areas?)

So, I packed my workflow definitions, context,etc. in a nice .jar and put it into /webapps/alfresco/WEB-INF/lib. Works like a charm.
BUT when I do any updates in these jar files and try to eg. reload workflow definition from workflow console it doesn't 'see' the new version. Even if I remove the workflow def. from .jar file it just reloads the old version (from the last time I restarted tomcat).

So… Is it possible to use .jar files and use workflow/repo consoles and webscript indexes in the same time? Jars are neat and nice but obligation to restart server with every minor change is a real drawback.
Or maybe jars are just last step meant for extensions distribution and in the stage of development there's no other way to update files 'live' than uploading them separately to appropriate directories?

EDIT: from what I've found it's impossible to force tomcat to reload its jars in runtime.
Keep also in mind that if you use .jar, even after restarting tomcat you still have to redeploy workflow definition using workflow console (but why? is old version cached somewhere?)

[azivotic]

Hi, i am not sure does this would help you, but did you set redeploy="true" in your process context file. Like this:

 
<property name="workflowDefinitions">
         <list>
            <props>
               <prop key="engineId">activiti</prop>
               <prop key="location">alfresco/extension/yourWorkflow.bpmn20.xml</prop>
               <prop key="mimetype">text/xml</prop>
               [b]<prop key="redeploy">true</prop>[/b]
            </props>
        </list>
</property>
‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍

If you are not, try something like this, i hope it would help.

Cheers,
Aleksadnar

[michalwrobel]

I've overlooked that setting.
Thank you very much! 

[azivotic]

I'm glad that I was helpful. 

Regards,
Aleksanadr