pentaho/pentaho-kettle · error · KettleException

Error retrieving logfile string

Error message

Error retrieving logfile string

What it means

When a log file is configured, createCommandLine resolves its path via VFS and appends log='<path>'. If getFileObject/getFilename throws KettleFileException, it is wrapped and rethrown as this KettleException while building the sqlldr command.

Solutions

1. Fix the log file path in the step dialog; create the parent directory first.
2. Define any environment variables used in the path.
3. Choose a location writable by the user running the transformation.
4. Clear the log file field if a log is not needed (the error only occurs when a value is set).

Example fix

// before (missing directory)
log = /logs/oracle/load.log
// after (directory exists)
log = /tmp/orabulk/load.log

// Java: pre-check optional log file path
String log = meta.getLogFile();
if (log != null) {
  String resolved = transMeta.environmentSubstitute(log);
  File dir = new File(resolved).getAbsoluteFile().getParentFile();
  if (!dir.isDirectory()) {
    throw new IllegalStateException("Log directory does not exist: " + dir);
  }
}

try {
  trans.execute(null);
} catch (KettleException e) {
  if (String.valueOf(e.getMessage()).contains("Error retrieving logfile")) {
    // inspect cause; fix path or clear the field if logging not needed
  }
}

When it happens

Trigger: meta.getLogFile() is non-null but VFS resolution fails (unresolvable variable, invalid path/scheme, inaccessible target) during createCommandLine from execute.

Common situations: Log path uses an undefined environment variable; log directory does not exist; typo in path scheme; permissions prevent resolving/creating the file.

Understand the failure class

Background: "File not found" and ENOENT errors: why libraries can't find a file that should exist — this error's family across 50 libraries.

Related errors

• Error retrieving badfile string
• Error retrieving controlfile string
• Error retrieving discardfile string
• Error retrieving sqlldr string
• Could not find field in stream

AI-assisted analysis of pentaho/pentaho-kettle@f3058517a1 (2026-09-13). Data as JSON: /api/errors/969871b1f1e551a1. Report an issue: GitHub.

Appendix: source

Thrown at plugins/oracle-bulk-loader/impl/src/main/java/org/pentaho/di/trans/steps/orabulkloader/OraBulkLoader.java:389

      }
    } else {
      throw new KettleException( "No control file specified" );
    }

    if ( OraBulkLoaderMeta.METHOD_AUTO_CONCURRENT.equals( meta.getLoadMethod() ) ) {
      sb.append( " data=\'-\'" );
    }

    if ( meta.getLogFile() != null ) {
      try {
        FileObject fileObject =
          getFileObject( meta.getLogFile(), getTransMeta() );

        sb.append( " log=\'" );
        sb.append( getFilename( fileObject ) );
        sb.append( "\'" );
      } catch ( KettleFileException ex ) {
        throw new KettleException( "Error retrieving logfile string", ex );
      }
    }

    if ( meta.getBadFile() != null ) {
      try {
        FileObject fileObject =
          getFileObject( meta.getBadFile(), getTransMeta() );

        sb.append( " bad=\'" );
        sb.append( getFilename( fileObject ) );
        sb.append( "\'" );
      } catch ( KettleFileException ex ) {
        throw new KettleException( "Error retrieving badfile string", ex );
      }
    }

    if ( meta.getDiscardFile() != null ) {
      try {

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