pentaho/pentaho-kettle · error · KettleException

ChangeFileEncoding.Error.ParentFolderNotExist

ChangeFileEncoding.Error.ParentFolderNotExist

Error message

ChangeFileEncoding.Error.ParentFolderNotExist

What it means

The parent directory of the source file does not exist, and the step's 'Create parent folder' option is disabled, so the step throws this KettleException naming the missing parent folder. The step requires the parent directory of the source file to be present (it only auto-creates it when the option is enabled).

Solutions

  1. Enable 'Create parent folder' in the step dialog so missing directories are auto-created.
  2. Create the missing directory manually or in a preceding job entry ('Create a folder').
  3. Fix the filename so the parent directory segment is correct.

Example fix

// before: dialog option
isCreateParentFolder = false
// after
isCreateParentFolder = true  // 'Create parent folder' checkbox checked
Defensive patterns

Strategy: validation

Validate before calling

import java.io.File;
File parent = new File( resolvedSourcePath ).getParentFile();
if ( parent != null && !parent.exists() ) {
  parent.mkdirs(); // or fail fast with a clear message
}

Prevention

When it happens

Trigger: In processRow: if (!data.sourceFile.getParent().exists()) { if (meta.isCreateParentFolder()) createFolder(); else throw ParentFolderNotExist } — missing parent dir plus createParentFolder=false.

Common situations: Filename built dynamically and a directory segment is misspelled; a network mount is not mounted so the directory appears missing; the user assumed the step would create intermediate directories but left the option unchecked.

Related errors

AI-assisted analysis of pentaho/pentaho-kettle@f3058517a1 (2026-09-13). Data as JSON: /api/errors/605e7a77c3d6b2fb. Report an issue: GitHub.

Appendix: source

Thrown at plugins/core/impl/src/main/java/org/pentaho/di/trans/steps/changefileencoding/ChangeFileEncoding.java:154

      // Check if source file exists
      if ( !data.sourceFile.exists() ) {
        throw new KettleException(
            BaseMessages.getString( PKG, "ChangeFileEncoding.Error.SourceFileNotExists", sourceFilename ) );
      }

      // Check if source file is a file
      if ( data.sourceFile.getType() != FileType.FILE ) {
        throw new KettleException(
            BaseMessages.getString( PKG, "ChangeFileEncoding.Error.SourceFileNotAFile", sourceFilename ) );
      }

      // create directory only if not exists
      if ( !data.sourceFile.getParent().exists() ) {
        if ( meta.isCreateParentFolder() ) {
          data.sourceFile.getParent().createFolder();
        } else {
          throw new KettleException( BaseMessages.getString( PKG, "ChangeFileEncoding.Error.ParentFolderNotExist",
            data.sourceFile.getParent().toString() ) );
        }
      }

      // Change file encoding
      changeEncoding( sourceFilename, targetFilename );

      putRow( data.inputRowMeta, outputRow ); // copy row to output rowset(s);

      if ( isDetailed() ) {
        logDetailed( BaseMessages.getString( PKG, "ChangeFileEncoding.LineNumber",
          getLinesRead() + " : " + getInputRowMeta().getString( outputRow ) ) );
      }
    } catch ( Exception e ) {
      boolean sendToErrorRow = false;
      String errorMessage = null;

      if ( getStepMeta().isDoingErrorHandling() ) {

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