JBPM process composition

[tszymanski]

Hello,
I am new to JBPM and trying to use process composition. My 2 processdefinition.xml files are listed at the bottom of this post.
When I start the process 'process-civil-inquiry-fingerprints', it starts out OK.
Then it correctly executes the first node (startFP).
Then it correctly starts the sub-process "process-common-elements-1"
Then it correctly executes the first node of "process-common-elements-1" process (start)
Then it correctly executes the second node of that process (ProcessInstanceAssign)
Then it fails with this exception:
java.lang.NullPointerException
at org.jbpm.graph.node.ProcessState.leave(ProcessState.java:186)
at org.jbpm.graph.exe.Token.signal(Token.java:192)
at org.jbpm.graph.exe.Token.signal(Token.java:140)
at org.jbpm.graph.exe.ProcessInstance.signal(ProcessInstance.java:270)

What am I doing wrong?
I would appreciate any help.
-T


#####################################
<process-definition name="process-civil-inquiry-fingerprints" initial="startFP">

<!-- Process-wide definition - begin -->



<!-- Process-wide definition - end -->

<start-state name='startFP'>

</start-state>

<process-state name="common_1">
<sub-process name="process-common-elements-1" />

</process-state>

<end-state name='end' />

</process-definition>



########################################
<process-definition name="process-common-elements-1" initial="start">

<!-- Process-wide definition - begin -->






<!-- Process-wide definition - end -->

<!-- Node of the type 'start-state' is alwys required. All other nodes are optional-->
<start-state name='start'>

</start-state>
<!-- -->

<task-node name='ProcessInstanceAssign'>




</task-node>

<task-node name='agentGet'>




</task-node>

<task-node name='agentCredentialsGet'>




</task-node>

<task-node name='processInstanceInitialize'>




</task-node>

<end-state name='end'>
</end-state>

</process-definition>

[bradsdavis]

Your start states dont have any transitions...

[tszymanski]

Sorry, the initial post HTML ate-up parts of the definition.
Here they are again, this time complete:

<process-definition name="process-civil-inquiry-fingerprints" initial="startFP">

 <!-- Process-wide definition - begin -->
 <event type='node-leave'>
 <action class='com.think.process.impl.jbpm.ActionHandler' />
 </event>
 <!-- Process-wide definition - end -->

 <start-state name='startFP'>
 <transition to='common_1' />
 </start-state>

 <process-state name="common_1">
 <sub-process name="process-common-elements-1" />
 <transition to='end' />
 </process-state>

 <end-state name='end' />

</process-definition>



<process-definition name="process-common-elements-1" initial="start">

 <!-- Process-wide definition - begin -->
 <event type='node-enter'>
 <action class='com.think.process.impl.jbpm.ActionHandler' />
 </event>
 <event type='node-leave'>
 <action class='com.think.process.impl.jbpm.ActionHandler' />
 </event>
 <!-- Process-wide definition - end -->

 <!-- Node of the type 'start-state' is alwys required. All other nodes are optional-->
 <start-state name='start'>
 <transition to='ProcessInstanceAssign' />
 </start-state>
 <!-- -->

 <task-node name='ProcessInstanceAssign'>
 <task>
 <assignment class='com.think.process.impl.jbpm.AssignmentHandler' />
 </task>
 <transition to='agentGet' />
 </task-node>

 <task-node name='agentGet'>
 <task>
 <assignment class='com.think.process.impl.jbpm.AssignmentHandler' />
 </task>
 <transition to='agentCredentialsGet' />
 </task-node>

 <task-node name='agentCredentialsGet'>
 <task>
 <assignment class='com.think.process.impl.jbpm.AssignmentHandler' />
 </task>
 <transition to='processInstanceInitialize' />
 </task-node>

 <task-node name='processInstanceInitialize'>
 <task>
 <assignment class='com.think.process.impl.jbpm.AssignmentHandler' />
 </task>
 <transition to='end' />
 </task-node>

 <end-state name='end'>
 </end-state>

</process-definition>

[kukeltje]

give transition names

[tszymanski]

I named all the transitions. It made no difference.

[kukeltje]

can you make a full unit test with embedded processdefinitions and actionhandlers like in the jBPM unittests and post that here?

[tszymanski]

Actually, I am rethinking the usefulness of the process composition feature.
I have several processes that share some elements. I thought factoring the shared elements out would work
What I need is this:
1. The parent process and child process must be identifiable by the same id.
2. Assignments made in either process must be visible to the other process.
It seems the "subprocess" gets different id than the parent process. Also, it appear the assignments made in the subprocess would not be visible in the parent process.
So it looks I would end-up with 2 separate process id (parent + child) as well as assignment mismatch.
Unless I am incorrect here I think I will just add the steps to the all processes, despite the multiplication factor.
Am I missing something here?