pentaho/pentaho-kettle · error · KettleException

JobMoveFiles.Error.Exception.UnableSaveRep

Error message

JobMoveFiles.Error.Exception.UnableSaveRep

What it means

This KettleException is thrown by JobEntryMoveFiles.saveRep() when persisting the move-files job entry's per-row attributes (source/destination filefolders, wildcard, etc.) to the Kettle repository fails with a KettleDatabaseException. It wraps the underlying database error and appends the job id. It signals a repository (database) problem during save, not a problem with the job entry configuration itself.

Solutions

  1. Check the wrapped KettleDatabaseException's cause/message for the actual JDBC error and fix the repository database or connection.
  2. Verify the repository R schema is up to date (run repository upgrade/repair) so all attribute columns exist.
  3. Test repository connectivity and credentials; reconnect and retry the save.
  4. If attributes are too large or violate constraints, shorten/normalize field values (paths, wildcards) and resave.

Example fix

// before
rep.saveJobEntryAttribute( id_job, getObjectId(), i, "wildcard", wildcard[i] );
// after
// ensure rep is connected first
if ( !rep.isConnected() && !rep.connect() ) { throw new KettleException( "Repository not connected" ); }
rep.saveJobEntryAttribute( id_job, getObjectId(), i, "wildcard", wildcard[i] );
Defensive patterns

Strategy: try-catch

Validate before calling

// before save
if ( !rep.isConnected() ) { rep.connect(); }
if ( wildcard == null || destination_filefolder == null ) { throw new KettleValidationException( "entry fields not initialized" ); }

Type guard

boolean canSave = (rep != null && rep.isConnected());

Try / catch

try { jobEntry.saveRep( rep, metaStore, id_job ); } catch ( KettleException e ) { logError( "Repository save failed: " + e.getCause(), e ); /* retry after reconnect */ }

Prevention

When it happens

Trigger: Calling saveRep() on a JobEntryMoveFiles when the repository database insert/update of job entry attributes fails — e.g. repository connection lost, table locked, constraint violation, or oversized attribute values.

Common situations: Saving a job with a 'Move files' entry while the repository database is down or the network to it dropped; repository schema version mismatch (missing columns); write permissions revoked for the repository user.

Related errors

AI-assisted analysis of pentaho/pentaho-kettle@f3058517a1 (2026-09-13). Data as JSON: /api/errors/b70ddf056beae520. Report an issue: GitHub.

Appendix: source

Thrown at engine/src/main/java/org/pentaho/di/job/entries/movefiles/JobEntryMoveFiles.java:358

      rep.saveJobEntryAttribute( id_job, getObjectId(), "create_move_to_folder", create_move_to_folder );
      rep
        .saveJobEntryAttribute(
          id_job, getObjectId(), "AddMovedDateBeforeExtension", AddMovedDateBeforeExtension );
      rep.saveJobEntryAttribute( id_job, getObjectId(), "simulate", simulate );

      // save the arguments...
      if ( source_filefolder != null ) {
        for ( int i = 0; i < source_filefolder.length; i++ ) {
          rep.saveJobEntryAttribute( id_job, getObjectId(), i, "source_filefolder", source_filefolder[i] );
          rep
            .saveJobEntryAttribute(
              id_job, getObjectId(), i, "destination_filefolder", destination_filefolder[i] );
          rep.saveJobEntryAttribute( id_job, getObjectId(), i, "wildcard", wildcard[i] );
        }
      }
    } catch ( KettleDatabaseException dbe ) {

      throw new KettleException( BaseMessages.getString( PKG, "JobMoveFiles.Error.Exception.UnableSaveRep" )
        + id_job, dbe );
    }
  }

  public Result execute( Result previousResult, int nr ) throws KettleException {
    Result result = previousResult;
    List<RowMetaAndData> rows = result.getRows();
    RowMetaAndData resultRow = null;
    result.setNrErrors( 1 );
    result.setResult( false );

    NrErrors = 0;
    NrSuccess = 0;
    successConditionBroken = false;
    successConditionBrokenExit = false;
    limitFiles = Const.toInt( environmentSubstitute( getNrErrorsLessThan() ), 10 );

    if ( log.isDetailed() ) {

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