pentaho/pentaho-kettle · error · RuntimeException

The function call getShortFilename is not valid.

Error message

The function call getShortFilename is not valid.

What it means

Thrown by ScriptAddedFunctions.getShortFilename() when the argument contract fails: the function requires exactly one argument that is non-null and non-undefined (ArgList.length == 1 && !isNull && !isUndefined). Zero arguments, extra arguments, or a null/undefined first argument produce this 'The function call getShortFilename is not valid.' RuntimeException before any file access.

Solutions

1. Pass exactly one defined, non-null String path: getShortFilename(path).
2. Guard in script: if (fn == undefined || fn == null) { skip/log } else { getShortFilename(fn) }.
3. Fix upstream steps so the filename field is always populated (defaults, null-if handling).
4. Log the offending row (with the row number) to find which record produced the null/undefined value.
5. Trim extra arguments — the function signature accepts only one.

Example fix

// before
var name = getShortFilename( path, "/data" ); // 'not valid'
// after
var name = getShortFilename( path );

// JavaScript
if ( typeof fn === "string" && fn.length > 0 ) { var name = getShortFilename(fn); }

function isDefinedString(v) { return typeof v === "string" && v !== null; }

try { name = getShortFilename(fn); } catch (e) { if (String(e.message).indexOf("is not valid") >= 0) { Logger.logError("getShortFilename needs exactly one non-null string"); name = null; } else { throw e; } }

When it happens

Trigger: Calling getShortFilename() with no arguments, more than one argument, or a null/undefined filename variable from a JavaScript step (e.g. the incoming row field holding the filename was null).

Common situations: The filename field is absent from some rows so the variable is null; a typo in the variable name leaves it undefined; an extra argument left after refactoring the script.

Understand the failure class

Background: "missing required argument" and "the following required arguments were not provided": what required-argument errors mean and how to fix them — this error's family across 20 libraries.

Related errors

• The function call isFolder is not valid.
• The function call num2str requires 1, 2, or 3 arguments.
• The function call str2date requires 1, 2, 3, or 4 arguments.
• Please provide a valid date to the function call date2str.
• Row.EndOfFileReached

AI-assisted analysis of pentaho/pentaho-kettle@f3058517a1 (2026-09-13). Data as JSON: /api/errors/037c2c0d7fd63cbc. Report an issue: GitHub.

Appendix: source

Thrown at engine/src/main/java/org/pentaho/di/trans/steps/script/ScriptAddedFunctions.java:2245

          } else {
            throw new RuntimeException( "file [" + ArgList[0] + "] can not be found!" );
          }

          return Filename;
        } catch ( IOException e ) {
          throw new RuntimeException( "The function call getShortFilename throw an error : " + e.toString() );
        } finally {
          if ( file != null ) {
            try {
              file.close();
            } catch ( Exception e ) {
              // Ignore errors
            }
          }
        }

      } else {
        throw new RuntimeException( "The function call getShortFilename is not valid." );
      }
    } catch ( Exception e ) {
      throw new RuntimeException( e.toString() );
    }
  }

  public static String getFileExtension( Bowl bowl, ScriptEngine actualContext, Bindings actualObject, Object[] ArgList,
    Object FunctionContext ) {
    try {
      if ( ArgList.length == 1 && !isNull( ArgList[0] ) && !isUndefined( ArgList[0] ) ) {
        if ( ArgList[0].equals( null ) ) {
          return null;
        }
        FileObject file = null;

        try {
          // Source file
          file = KettleVFS.getInstance( bowl ).getFileObject( (String) ArgList[0] );

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