pentaho/pentaho-kettle · error · KettleValueException

ScriptValuesMod.Log.UnexpectedeError

Error message

ScriptValuesMod.Log.UnexpectedeError

What it means

Generic wrapper thrown when preparing the JavaScript scope for a row fails unexpectedly. Before executing the script, addValues() converts the incoming row values and the row metadata (rowMeta) into scriptable objects via Context.toObject and puts them into the scope; any Exception in that preparation is wrapped as a KettleValueException with the 'Unexpected error' message. The chained cause holds the real problem.

Solutions

1. Inspect the chained cause to find which field or operation failed
2. Check the row's field types upstream; convert exotic types (binary/serialized) to strings or numbers before this step
3. Restart the transformation if the scripting Context became corrupted mid-run
4. Ensure upstream steps define stable, well-typed fields for every row
5. Update Kettle/Rhino to a version fixing scope-wrapping issues

Example fix

// before: passing raw binary field into script step
// upstream Select Values passes TYPE_BINARY 'payload'
// after: convert to string before the JavaScript step
// (upstream) SelectValues metadata change: payload -> TYPE_STRING

// Ensure upstream fields are simple, typed values before the script step
// Preview the previous step and confirm no TYPE_BINARY / serialized fields reach the script

try {
  processRow();
} catch ( KettleValueException e ) {
  logError( "Row scope preparation failed for row: " + e.getCause(), e );
  putError(...); // route the row to error handling instead of failing the transform
}

When it happens

Trigger: Context.toObject(rowMeta, data.scope) or scope.put("rowMeta", ...) throws during row processing in addValues() from processRow — e.g. Rhino fails to wrap a value or the scope is in an invalid state.

Common situations: Rows containing exotic/binary field types that Rhino cannot wrap, corrupted row metadata after upstream type changes, or internal Context state problems in long-running transformations.

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

• Error in isEmpty function:
• Script.Log.CouldNotAddDefaultConstants
• ScriptValuesMod.Log.CouldNotAddDefaultConstants
• ScriptValuesMod.Log.CouldNotCompileJavascript
• ScriptValuesMod.Log.ErrorProcessingStartScript

AI-assisted analysis of pentaho/pentaho-kettle@f3058517a1 (2026-09-13). Data as JSON: /api/errors/2754924cc07c9e5d. Report an issue: GitHub.

Appendix: source

Thrown at engine/src/main/java/org/pentaho/di/trans/steps/scriptvalues_mod/ScriptValuesMod.java:377

            Scriptable jsarg = Context.toObject( data.values_used[ i ], data.scope );
            data.scope.put( valueMeta.getName(), data.scope, jsarg );
          } else {
            Object normalStorageValueData = valueMeta.convertToNormalStorageType( valueData );
            Scriptable jsarg;
            if ( normalStorageValueData != null ) {
              jsarg = Context.toObject( normalStorageValueData, data.scope );
            } else {
              jsarg = null;
            }
            data.scope.put( valueMeta.getName(), data.scope, jsarg );
          }
        }

        // also add the meta information for the hole row
        Scriptable jsrowMeta = Context.toObject( rowMeta, data.scope );
        data.scope.put( "rowMeta", data.scope, jsrowMeta );
      } catch ( Exception e ) {
        throw new KettleValueException( BaseMessages.getString( PKG, "ScriptValuesMod.Log.UnexpectedeError" ), e );
      }

      // Executing our Script
      data.script.exec( data.cx, data.scope );

      if ( bFirstRun ) {
        bFirstRun = false;
        // Check if we had a Transformation Status
        Object tran_stat = data.scope.get( "trans_Status", data.scope );
        if ( tran_stat != ScriptableObject.NOT_FOUND ) {
          bWithTransStat = true;
          if ( log.isDetailed() ) {
            logDetailed( ( "tran_Status found. Checking transformation status while script execution." ) );
          }
        } else {
          if ( log.isDetailed() ) {
            logDetailed( ( "No tran_Status found. Transformation status checking not available." ) );
          }

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