JetBrains/intellij-community · error · RuntimeConfigurationError

No scratch file associated with configuration

Error message

No scratch file associated with configuration

What it means

JavaScratchConfiguration.checkConfiguration throws RuntimeConfigurationError('No scratch file associated with configuration') when getScratchFileUrl() is null — the configuration exists but no scratch file URL has been bound to it (the scratch was deleted, its URL was never stored, or the configuration was copied/deserialized without the file reference).

Source

Thrown at java/execution/impl/src/com/intellij/execution/scratch/JavaScratchConfiguration.java:69

public final class JavaScratchConfiguration extends ApplicationConfiguration {
  JavaScratchConfiguration(String name, @NotNull Project project, @NotNull ConfigurationFactory factory) {
    super(name, project, factory);
  }

  @Override
  public boolean isBuildProjectOnEmptyModuleList() {
    return false;
  }

  @Override
  public void checkConfiguration() throws RuntimeConfigurationException {
    JavaParametersUtil.checkAlternativeJRE(this);
    final String className = getMainClassName();
    if (className == null || className.isEmpty()) {
      throw new RuntimeConfigurationError(ExecutionBundle.message("no.main.class.specified.error.text"));
    }
    if (getScratchFileUrl() == null) {
      throw new RuntimeConfigurationError(JavaCompilerBundle.message("error.no.scratch.file.associated.with.configuration"));
    }
    if (getScratchVirtualFile() == null) {
      throw new RuntimeConfigurationError(JavaCompilerBundle.message("error.associated.scratch.file.not.found"));
    }
    ProgramParametersUtil.checkWorkingDirectoryExist(this, getProject(), getConfigurationModule().getModule());
    JavaRunConfigurationExtensionManager.checkConfigurationIsValid(this);
  }

  @Override
  public RunProfileState getState(@NotNull Executor executor, @NotNull ExecutionEnvironment env) throws ExecutionException {
    final JavaCommandLineState state = new JavaApplicationCommandLineState<>(this, env) {
      @Override
      protected JavaParameters createJavaParameters() throws ExecutionException {
        final JavaParameters params = super.createJavaParameters();
        // After params are fully configured, additionally ensure JAVA_ENABLE_PREVIEW_PROPERTY is set,
        // because the scratch is compiled with this feature if it is supported by the JDK
        final Sdk jdk = params.getJdk();
        if (jdk != null) {

View on GitHub (pinned to be881553f2)

Solutions

1. Delete the stale run configuration entry and re-run the scratch file directly (Run icon in the scratch editor) to regenerate it
2. Or edit the configuration and re-associate the correct scratch file
3. Ensure the scratch file actually exists under the Scratches view (View | Tool Windows | Scratches)

if (configuration.getScratchFileUrl() == null) {
  // configuration lost its scratch binding: recreate it by running the scratch again
  return recreateConfiguration();
}

try {
  configuration.checkConfiguration();
} catch (RuntimeConfigurationError e) {
  if (isScratchMissing(e)) deleteAndRecreateRunConfiguration();
}

When it happens

Trigger: A JavaScratchConfiguration run action where the underlying scratch file link is missing: scratch file deleted from disk, configuration XML referencing a stale/null URL, or invoking the configuration programmatically without setting the scratch file.

Common situations: Old workspace.xml run configurations whose scratch was removed; sharing a Java scratch run configuration to another machine where the scratch file does not exist; deleting the scratch but keeping the run entry.

Related errors

• No main class specified
• Associated scratch file not found
• Malformed exclusion, 'groupId:artifactName' format is expect
• Row %d failed: hierarchicalIdx cannot be null
• Row %d access failed: hierarchicalIdx cannot be empty

AI-assisted analysis of JetBrains/intellij-community@be881553f2 (2026-08-14). Data as JSON: /api/errors/08cb2be3aa1aa4b4. Report an issue: GitHub.