pentaho/pentaho-kettle · error · KettleValueException

Script.Log.CouldNotAddDefaultConstants

Script.Log.CouldNotAddDefaultConstants

Error message

Script.Log.CouldNotAddDefaultConstants

What it means

Thrown in Script.addValues when adding the default constants to the JavaScript scope fails. The step puts well-known constants (e.g. SKIP_TRANSFORMATION, ERROR_TRANSFORMATION, CONTINUE_TRANSFORMATION) into the Scriptable scope; any Exception raised while doing so is wrapped in a KettleValueException with this message. It indicates scope/context initialization failed, usually due to an underlying Rhino/JS engine problem.

Solutions

1. Restart the transformation/JVM to get a fresh scripting context and scope.
2. Check the JS engine version bundled with your Pentaho/Kettle distribution and align with the supported version.
3. Inspect the wrapped cause (ex) for the underlying scripting-engine error and fix accordingly.
4. Verify no custom plugin or jar is replacing/conflicting with the bundled Rhino classes.

Example fix

// before: engine scope shared across runs becomes unusable after an error
// after: ensure a fresh scope per run / restart transformation after a script error
// (operational fix — no code change available in user space)

try {
  step.processRow();
} catch (KettleValueException e) {
  if (e.getMessage().contains("CouldNotAddDefaultConstants")) {
    logError("JS scope broken; restarting transformation", e);
    // restart transformation / new scripting context, then retry
  } else { throw e; }
}

When it happens

Trigger: addValues (called from processRow) executing data.scope.put("_TRANSFORMATION_...") for the default constants and the underlying scope.put throwing any Exception (caught as ex).

Common situations: Rhino/native JS engine version incompatibilities where the shared scope is sealed or in an unexpected state; the context/scope was already closed from a previous failed row; custom plugins altering the scope.

Understand the failure class

Background: "This is a bug, please report it": internal invariant violations, unreachable panics, and SNH errors explained — this error's family across 47 libraries.

Related errors

• Script.Log.CouldNotAttachAdditionalScripts
• The function call getOcuranceString is not valid
• The function call loadFileContentrequires 1 ou 2 arguments.
• The function call removeCRLF is not valid
• Could not convert the given String :

AI-assisted analysis of pentaho/pentaho-kettle@f3058517a1 (2026-09-13). Data as JSON: /api/errors/4b8c9832fd66b6d4. Report an issue: GitHub.

Appendix: source

Thrown at engine/src/main/java/org/pentaho/di/trans/steps/script/Script.java:247

        // ScriptValuesAddedFunctions.class, ScriptableObject.DONTENUM);
        // } catch (Exception ex) {
        // // System.out.println(ex.toString());
        // throw new KettleValueException(BaseMessages.getString(PKG, "Script.Log.CouldNotAddDefaultFunctions"), ex);
        // }
        // ;

        // Adding some Constants to the JavaScript
        try {

          data.scope.put( "SKIP_TRANSFORMATION", Integer.valueOf( SKIP_TRANSFORMATION ) );
          data.scope.put( "ABORT_TRANSFORMATION", Integer.valueOf( ABORT_TRANSFORMATION ) );
          data.scope.put( "ERROR_TRANSFORMATION", Integer.valueOf( ERROR_TRANSFORMATION ) );
          data.scope.put( "CONTINUE_TRANSFORMATION", Integer.valueOf( CONTINUE_TRANSFORMATION ) );

        } catch ( Exception ex ) {
          // System.out.println("Exception Adding the Constants " +
          // ex.toString());
          throw new KettleValueException(
            BaseMessages.getString( PKG, "Script.Log.CouldNotAddDefaultConstants" ), ex );
        }

        try {
          // Checking for StartScript
          if ( strStartScript != null && strStartScript.length() > 0 ) {
            CompiledScript startScript = ( (Compilable) data.cx ).compile( strStartScript );
            startScript.eval( data.scope );
            if ( log.isDetailed() ) {
              logDetailed( ( "Start Script found!" ) );
            }
          } else {
            if ( log.isDetailed() ) {
              logDetailed( ( "No starting Script found!" ) );
            }
          }
        } catch ( Exception es ) {
          // System.out.println("Exception processing StartScript " +

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