JR50761: Need to send null HTTP request message body if input parameter is null

Version 8.5 Refresh Pack 6 for the IBM Business Process Manager products
Version 8.5.0 Fix Pack 2 for the IBM Business Process Manager products

APAR status

• Closed as program error.

Error description

• When you use HTTP import binding and pass null as the input
  parameter, then the HTTP message body will be an empty wrapper
  instead of null, and the content-length is not 0. For example,
  the message body is {} for JSON format and is  <XXX /> for XML
  format (where XXX is the wrapper name in the schema
  definition). This behavior is as designed, but this HTTP
  request is not be accepted by some HTTP services.
  

Local fix

• NA
  

Problem summary

• ****************************************************************
  * USERS AFFECTED:  IBM Business Process Manager (BPM)          *
  *                  Advanced                                    *
  ****************************************************************
  * PROBLEM DESCRIPTION: When you use HTTP import binding and    *
  *                      pass null as the input parameter,       *
  *                      then the HTTP message body will be an   *
  *                      empty wrapper instead of null, and      *
  *                      the content-length is not 0. For        *
  *                      example, the message body is {} for     *
  *                      JSON format and is  <XXX /> for XML     *
  *                      format (where XXX is the wrapper name   *
  *                      in the schema definition). This         *
  *                      behavior is as designed, but this       *
  *                      HTTP request is not be accepted by      *
  *                      some HTTP services.                     *
  ****************************************************************
  * RECOMMENDATION:                                              *
  ****************************************************************
  Some HTTP services will not accept an HTTP request that has
  null as the input pa-rameter but has an HTTP message body that
  is an empty wrapper rather than null.
  

Problem conclusion

• A fix is available for IBM BPM V8.0.1.0 that provides a JVM
  custom property; if you set the value of this custom property
  to "true", you will be able to send a null HTTP request body.
  
  On Fix Central (http://www.ibm.com/support/fixcentral), search
  for JR50761:
  1. Select IBM Business Process Manager with your edition from
  the product selec-tor, the installed version to the fix pack
  level, and your platform, and then click Continue.
  2. Select APAR or SPR, enter JR50761, and click Continue.
  
  When you download fix packages, ensure that you also download
  the readme file for each fix. Review each readme file for
  additional installation instructions and information about the
  fix.
  
  A custom property must be configured to enable the function
  provided by this fix. You must add a new JVM custom property
  using the Admin Console.
  
   To do so, click Servers > Server Types > WebSphere
  application servers > server_name; under Server
  Infrastructure, click Java and process management > Process
  definition > Java virtual machine > CustomProperties.
  
  Add the custom property,
  "com.ibm.websphere.sca.http.data.useNullMessageBody", with
  value "true". Repeat this step for all JVMs in the environment
  if required.
  

Temporary fix

• One way to avoid the problem is to use a custom DataHandler
  to remove the body before sending the HTTP request.
  

Comments

APAR Information

• APAR is sysrouted FROM one or more of the following:

• APAR is sysrouted TO one or more of the following:

Fix information

• Fixed component name

  BPM ADVANCED

• Fixed component ID

  5725C9400

Applicable component levels

• R800 PSY

     UP