pentaho/pentaho-kettle · error · KettleException

GPBulkLoaderMeta.Exception.TableNotSpecified

GPBulkLoaderMeta.Exception.TableNotSpecified

Error message

GPBulkLoaderMeta.Exception.TableNotSpecified

What it means

getRequiredFields() requires a target table to determine the table's field metadata; if neither schemaName nor tableName is set (Utils.isEmpty), it throws a KettleException with GPBulkLoaderMeta.Exception.TableNotSpecified. It means the step was validated without the mandatory target table being configured.

Solutions

1. Set the target table in the step dialog (or ensure ${TABLE_NAME} resolves to a non-empty value).
2. If a variable is used, define it in the transformation/job properties or environment before validation.
3. If injecting metadata, inject the TABLE attribute along with the mappings.

Example fix

// before
meta.setTableName( null ); // validation fails
// after
meta.setTableName( "${TARGET_TABLE}" ); // ensure variable is defined
// or
meta.setTableName( "staging.sales_facts" );

if ( databaseMeta != null && ( Utils.isEmpty( schemaName ) && Utils.isEmpty( tableName ) ) ) {
  throw new KettleException( "Target table must be set before validation" );
}

When it happens

Trigger: Calling getRequiredFields() on a PGBulkLoaderMeta whose realTableName (or schema+table combination) is empty — the 'Target table' field in the step dialog was never filled, or a variable used there resolves to an empty string.

Common situations: Freshly added bulk loader step validated before configuration; variable (e.g. ${TABLE_NAME}) undefined or empty at runtime; metadata injection that skipped the TABLE attribute.

Understand the failure class

Background: "is required", "must be set", "missing required field": configuration validation errors across open-source libraries — this error's family across 36 libraries.

Related errors

• GPBulkLoaderMeta.Exception.ConnectionNotDefined
• PurRepository.fileCannotBeSavedInRootDirectory
• Unable to find field [
• A deadlock was detected between steps
• AbsSecurityManager.ERROR_0003_UNABLE_TO_ACCESS_ROLE_BINDING_WEBSVC

AI-assisted analysis of pentaho/pentaho-kettle@f3058517a1 (2026-09-13). Data as JSON: /api/errors/48f8a0c9d7febce9. Report an issue: GitHub.

Appendix: source

Thrown at plugins/postgresql-db-bulk-loader/impl/src/main/java/org/pentaho/di/trans/steps/pgbulkloader/PGBulkLoaderMeta.java:606

    String realTableName = space.environmentSubstitute( tableName );
    String realSchemaName = space.environmentSubstitute( schemaName );

    if ( databaseMeta != null ) {
      Database db = new Database( loggingObject, databaseMeta );
      try {
        db.connect();

        if ( !Utils.isEmpty( realTableName ) ) {
          String schemaTable = databaseMeta.getQuotedSchemaTableCombination( realSchemaName, realTableName );

          // Check if this table exists...
          if ( db.checkTableExists( schemaTable ) ) {
            return db.getTableFields( schemaTable );
          } else {
            throw new KettleException( BaseMessages.getString( PKG, "GPBulkLoaderMeta.Exception.TableNotFound" ) );
          }
        } else {
          throw new KettleException( BaseMessages.getString( PKG, "GPBulkLoaderMeta.Exception.TableNotSpecified" ) );
        }
      } catch ( Exception e ) {
        throw new KettleException(
          BaseMessages.getString( PKG, "GPBulkLoaderMeta.Exception.ErrorGettingFields" ), e );
      } finally {
        db.close();
      }
    } else {
      throw new KettleException( BaseMessages.getString( PKG, "GPBulkLoaderMeta.Exception.ConnectionNotDefined" ) );
    }

  }

  /**
   * @return the schemaName
   */
  public String getSchemaName() {
    return schemaName;

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