Bean Shell Programming Guide

What is it for?

• Joget Workflow provided Bean Shell implementation as several Plugin Types. Please refer to usages section.
• BeanShell is a small, embeddable Java source interpreter with object scripting language features written in Java.
• BeanShell dynamically executes standard Java syntax in runtime.
• By using BeanShell Plugin, you can type in valid Java codes in plugin configuration and the statements will be executed when the plugin is triggered.
• No compilation cycle is needed.

What is the code syntax?

• Java syntax supported by the version of JDK used
• Usage of all libraries that Joget used. Please details please refer to NOTICE.txt in the release installer/bundle.
• Usage of all Joget Workflow Utility and Service Methods.
• Usage of Hash Variable.

Usages

Use as Form Load Binder

Injected Variables:

• • element - Element that this binder is tie to. (org.joget.apps.form.model.Element)

  • primaryKey - The primary key provided by the element to load data. (java.lang.String)

  • formData - The data holder of the whole form. (org.joget.apps.form.model.FormData)

Expected Outcome:

• • An org.joget.apps.form.model.FormRowSet object which contains one org.joget.apps.form.model.FormRow object. 

Samples:

Load user data using jdbc.

import java.sql.Connection;
import java.sql.PreparedStatement;
import java.sql.ResultSet;
import java.sql.SQLException;
import javax.sql.DataSource;
import org.joget.apps.app.service.AppUtil;
import org.joget.apps.form.model.Element;
import org.joget.apps.form.model.FormData;
import org.joget.apps.form.model.FormRow;
import org.joget.apps.form.model.FormRowSet;
import org.joget.commons.util.LogUtil;
public FormRowSet load(Element element, String username, FormData formData) { 
    FormRowSet rows = new FormRowSet();
    if (username != null && !username.isEmpty()) {
        Connection con = null;
        try {
            // retrieve connection from the default datasource
            DataSource ds = (DataSource)AppUtil.getApplicationContext().getBean("setupDataSource");
            con = ds.getConnection();
         
            // execute SQL query
            if(!con.isClosed()) {
                PreparedStatement stmt = con.prepareStatement("SELECT username, firstName, lastName, email from dir_user where username=?");
                stmt.setObject(1, username);
                ResultSet rs = stmt.executeQuery();
                while (rs.next()) {
                    FormRow row = new FormRow();
                    System.out.println(rs.getObject("username") );
                    row.setProperty("username", (rs.getObject("username") != null)?rs.getObject("username").toString():"");
                    row.setProperty("firstName", (rs.getObject("firstName") != null)?rs.getObject("firstName").toString():"");
                    row.setProperty("lastName", (rs.getObject("lastName") != null)?rs.getObject("lastName").toString():"");
                    row.setProperty("email", (rs.getObject("email") != null)?rs.getObject("email").toString():"");
                    
                    rows.add(row);
                    break;
                }
            }
        } catch(Exception e) {
            LogUtil.error("Sample app - Form 1", e, "Error loading user data in load binder");
        } finally {
            //always close the connection after used
            try {
                if(con != null) {
                    con.close();
                }
            } catch(SQLException e) {/* ignored */}
        }
    }
    return rows;
}
//call load method with injected variable
return load(element, primaryKey, formData);

Use as Form Options Binder

Injected Variables:

• • element - Element that this binder is tie to. (org.joget.apps.form.model.Element)
  • primaryKey - The primary key provided by the element to load data. (java.lang.String)
  • formData - The data holder of the whole form. (org.joget.apps.form.model.FormData)

Expected Outcome:

• • An org.joget.apps.form.model.FormRowSet object which contains one or more org.joget.apps.form.model.FormRow object. All FormRow objects are expected to have "value" and "label" property.

Samples:

Load time zone as the select box options.

import java.util.Map;
import org.joget.apps.app.service.AppUtil;
import org.joget.apps.form.model.Element;
import org.joget.apps.form.model.FormData;
import org.joget.apps.form.model.FormRow;
import org.joget.apps.form.model.FormRowSet;
import org.joget.apps.form.service.FormUtil;
import org.joget.commons.util.TimeZoneUtil;

public FormRowSet load(Element element, String username, FormData formData) { 
    FormRowSet rows = new FormRowSet();
    
    //Get timezones using timezone util
    for(Map.Entry entry : TimeZoneUtil.getList().entrySet()){
        FormRow option = new FormRow();
        option.setProperty(FormUtil.PROPERTY_VALUE, (String) entry.getKey());
        option.setProperty(FormUtil.PROPERTY_LABEL, (String) entry.getValue());
        rows.add(option);
    }
    
    return rows;
}

//call load method with injected variable
return load(element, primaryKey, formData);

Use as Form Ajax Options Binder

Injected Variables:

• • values - Dependency values of the controlling field. (java.lang.String[])

Expected Outcome:

• • An org.joget.apps.form.model.FormRowSet object which contains one or more org.joget.apps.form.model.FormRow object. All FormRow objects are expected to have "value" and "label" property.

Samples:

Load user as options based on the group id passed by the controlling field.

import java.util.Collection;
import org.joget.apps.app.service.AppUtil;
import org.joget.apps.form.model.Element;
import org.joget.apps.form.model.FormData;
import org.joget.apps.form.model.FormRow;
import org.joget.apps.form.model.FormRowSet;
import org.joget.apps.form.service.FormUtil;
import org.joget.directory.model.User;
import org.joget.directory.model.service.ExtDirectoryManager;

public FormRowSet load(String[] values) { 
    FormRowSet rows = new FormRowSet();
    
    ExtDirectoryManager directoryManager = (ExtDirectoryManager) AppUtil.getApplicationContext().getBean("directoryManager");
    
    //set groupId based on dependency value
    String groupId = null;
    if (values != null && values.length > 0) {
        groupId = values[0];
    }
    
    //Get users using directory manager
    Collection userList = directoryManager.getUsers(null, null, null, null, groupId, null, null, "firstName", false, null, null);
    for(Object u : userList){
        User user = (User) u;
        FormRow option = new FormRow();
        option.setProperty(FormUtil.PROPERTY_VALUE, user.getUsername());
        option.setProperty(FormUtil.PROPERTY_LABEL, user.getFirstName() + " " + user.getLastName());
        rows.add(option);
    }
    
    return rows;
}

//call load method with injected variable
return load(values);

Use as Form Store Binder

Injected Variables:

• • element - Element that this binder is tie to. (org.joget.apps.form.model.Element)
  • rows - Data to be store. Contains only one org.joget.apps.form.model.FormRow object. (org.joget.apps.form.model.FormRowSet)
  • formData - The data holder of the whole form. (org.joget.apps.form.model.FormData)

Expected Outcome:

• • Same org.joget.apps.form.model.FormRowSet object which stored.

Samples:

Use as Form Validator

Injected Variables:

• • element - Element that this validator is tie to. (org.joget.apps.form.model.Element)
  • values - The submitted values of the element. (java.lang.String[])
  • formData - The data holder of the whole form. (org.joget.apps.form.model.FormData)

Expected Outcome:

Samples:

Compare the submitted value with the value of another field.

import java.util.Arrays;
import org.joget.apps.app.service.AppUtil;
import org.joget.apps.form.model.Element;
import org.joget.apps.form.model.Form;
import org.joget.apps.form.model.FormData;
import org.joget.apps.form.service.FormUtil;

public boolean validate(Element element, FormData formData, String[] values) {
    boolean result = true;

    //get field 1 value from form data object
    String field1Id = "field1";
    Form form = FormUtil.findRootForm(element);
    Element field1 = FormUtil.findElement(field1Id, form, formData);

    if (field1 != null) {
        //get value of field 1
        String[] compareValues = FormUtil.getElementPropertyValues(field1, formData);

        //compare the value of field 2 and field 1 are equals
        if (!Arrays.equals(values, compareValues)) {
            String id = FormUtil.getElementParameterName(element);
            formData.addFormError(id, "Value not equal!!!!");
            result = false;
        } 
    } else {
        //ignore if the field 1 not exist
    }

    return result; 
}

//call validate method with injected variable
return validate(element, formData, values);

Use as Form Multi Row Load Binder

Injected Variables:

• • element - Element that this binder is tie to. (org.joget.apps.form.model.Element)
  • primaryKey - The primary key provided by the element to load data. (java.lang.String)
  • formData - The data holder of the whole form. (org.joget.apps.form.model.FormData)

Expected Return Object:

• • An org.joget.apps.form.model.FormRowSet object which contains one or more org.joget.apps.form.model.FormRow object. 

Samples:

Use as Form Multi Row Store Binder

Injected Variables:

• • element - Element that this binder is tie to. (org.joget.apps.form.model.Element)
  • rows - Data to be store. Contains one or more org.joget.apps.form.model.FormRow object. (org.joget.apps.form.model.FormRowSet)
  • formData - The data holder of the whole form. (org.joget.apps.form.model.FormData)

Expected Return Object:

Samples:

Use as Form Multi Row Validator

Injected Variables:

• • element - Element that this validator is tie to. (org.joget.apps.form.model.Element)
  • rows - Submitted data. Contains one or more org.joget.apps.form.model.FormRow object. (org.joget.apps.form.model.FormRowSet)
  • formData - The data holder of the whole form. (org.joget.apps.form.model.FormData)

Expected Return Object:

• • A boolean value to indicate the validation pass or fail.

Samples:

Use as Form Permission

Injected Variables:

• • user - User object of current logged in user (org.joget.directory.model.User)
  • requestParams - Request parameters map of current HTTP Request (java.util.Map)

Expected Return Object:

• • A boolean value to indicate the user is authorized.

Samples:

Check the current user's username are same with the form field "creator" value. The following sample using Form Hash Variable to retrieve form field value.

import java.util.Map;
import org.joget.directory.model.User;

public boolean isAuthorized(User user, Map params) { 
    //using hash variable to get "creator" field value and escapes it with java syntax, then compare with current username
    return "#form.crm_account.creator?java#".equals(user.getUsername());
}

//call isAuthorized method with injected variable
return isAuthorized(user, requestParams);

Use as Form Post Submission Processing Tool

Injected Variables:

• • workflowAssignment - The workflow activity assignment object of the saving form. Null when the form is not an assignment form. (org.joget.workflow.model.WorkflowAssignment)
  • pluginManager - Plugin Manager service bean for convenient usage. (org.joget.plugin.base.PluginManager)
  • appDef - App definition of the process. (org.joget.apps.app.model.AppDefinition)
  • request - Http Request object of current Http Request. (javax.servlet.http.HttpServletRequest)

Expected Return Object:

• • None

Samples:

Use as Process Participant

Injected Variables:

• • pluginManager - Plugin Manager service bean for convenient usage. (org.joget.plugin.base.PluginManager)
  • workflowActivity - Workflow Activity that trying to retrieves assignee. (org.joget.workflow.model.WorkflowActivity)

Expected Return Object:

• • A java.util.Collection of username in java.lang.String to be assign to the Workflow Activity.

Samples:

        Randomly assign an user in a department to a workflow activity

import java.util.ArrayList;
import java.util.Collection;
import org.joget.apps.app.service.AppUtil;
import org.joget.directory.model.User;
import org.joget.directory.model.service.ExtDirectoryManager;
import org.joget.workflow.model.WorkflowActivity;

public Collection getAssignees(WorkflowActivity activity) { 
    Collection assignees = new ArrayList();
    
    ExtDirectoryManager directoryManager = (ExtDirectoryManager) pluginManager.getBean("directoryManager");
    
    String deptId = "D-005";
    
    //Get total user in department
    Long total = directoryManager.getTotalUsers(null, null, deptId, null, null, null, null);
    
    //Get random number from 0 to the total number of users in department
    int random = (int) (Math.random() * total);
    
    //Get users using directory manager
    Collection userList = directoryManager.getUsers(null, null, deptId, null, null, null, null, "firstName", false, random, 1);
    for(Object u : userList){
        User user = (User) u;
        assignees.add(user.getUsername());
    }
    
    return assignees;
}

//call getAssignees method with injected variable
return getAssignees(workflowActivity);

Use as Process Tool 

Injected Variables:

• • workflowAssignment - The workflow tool activity assignment object. (org.joget.workflow.model.WorkflowAssignment)
  • pluginManager - Plugin Manager service bean for convenient usage. (org.joget.plugin.base.PluginManager)
  • appDef - App definition of the process. (org.joget.apps.app.model.AppDefinition)
  • request - Http Request object of current HTTP Request. Not available if the tool is trigger by Deadline. (javax.servlet.http.HttpServletRequest)

Expected Return Object:

• • None

Samples:

Use as Userview Permission

Injected Variables:

• • user - User object of current logged in user (org.joget.directory.model.User)
  • requestParams - Request parameters map of current HTTP Request (java.util.Map)

Expected Return Object:

• • A boolean value to indicate the user is authorized.

Samples:

Best Practices

1. Only import classes that are needed

Do not use wildcard in import statement. It giving a very bad performance in Bean Shell interpreter to search the whole package and loads it in memory.

Don't:

import java.util.*;

Do:

import java.util.Collection;

2. Do not need to mention the type of element of a collections

Bean Shell interpreter cannot recognise the element type syntax of collections class like Collection, Map, List, Set and etc.

Don't:

Map<String, String> map = new HashMap<String, String>();

Do:

Map map = new HashMap();

3. Indents your script nicely and follows the Java Code Conventions

It will make yours and others life easier to maintain and review the script whenever necessary as Joget Workflow provided flexibility to adapt change quickly.

4. Write your script in functions

If your script is pretty long and some parts of the script are reusable, please make use of function to write your script. It provided better reading and performance.

5. Remember to write some comments 

It will helps you and others to understand what is the purpose for the script quickly. 

6. Catch the exceptions and give a meaningful message in log.

If you are using a lot of Bean Shell Scripting in your app, a meaningful log message can help you to locate your issue quickly.

Don't

try {
    //do something
} catch (Exception e) {
    LogUtil.error("BeanShell", e, "Error executing script");
}

Do:

try {
    //do something
} catch (Exception e) {
    LogUtil.error("CRM app - Backend userview", e, "Error retrieving user department in Report category permission");
}

7. Consider to make it as a plugin instead of using Bean Shell

If your script need to reuse for multiple times in an app or can be used by others app in future development, please consider to make your Bean Shell script as a plugin instead of copy and paste it multiple times across your app. Bean Shell script is harder to maintain in this case. Imagine that you want to make a change, you will have to update all the places that are using the same script as well. Beside that, a normal plugin implementation will have better performance than a script running by a Bean Shell interpreter.

More samples