pentaho/pentaho-kettle · error · RuntimeException

The function call putRow requires 1 argument : the output…

Error message

The function call putRow requires 1 argument : the output row data (Object[])

What it means

The JavaScript transform's putRow() helper in ScriptAddedFunctions validates the argument list before passing a row downstream. It requires exactly one argument: the output row as an Object[] (Kettle row array). If ArgList is null, empty, or contains more than one element, the function refuses to run and throws this RuntimeException.

Solutions

1. Pass exactly one argument: putRow(new Object[] { value1, value2 }) or putRow(row).
2. If you intended to send the input row through, store it first (var row = getInputRow(); ...) and pass that single variable.
3. Remove any extra boolean/context arguments from the putRow call; this API accepts only the row array.
4. Check the script for multiple putRow overloads/typos (e.g. putRow vs putRowInstr) and use the documented one-argument form.

Example fix

// before
putRow(row, true);
// after
putRow(row);

// JavaScript in the Script step
var row = getInputRow();
if (row == null) { throw new Error('putRow requires a row array'); }
putRow(row); // exactly one argument

function isRowArray(r) { return r != null && Array.isArray(r); }

When it happens

Trigger: Calling putRow() with no arguments, calling putRow(row, extraArg), or calling putRow(null) from a JavaScript/Script step so that ArgList.length != 1.

Common situations: Copy-pasted JavaScript snippets where putRow is called with leftover arguments; scripts written for a different API (e.g. putRow(row, true) variants); refactored scripts where the row variable was removed or renamed and a stale call remains.

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

• Could not convert the given String :
• e.toString()
• Please provide a valid Char to the fillString
• Script.Log.CouldNotAddDefaultConstants
• Script.Log.CouldNotAttachAdditionalScripts

AI-assisted analysis of pentaho/pentaho-kettle@f3058517a1 (2026-09-13). Data as JSON: /api/errors/101cb4e3fabc4c9d. Report an issue: GitHub.

Appendix: source

Thrown at engine/src/main/java/org/pentaho/di/trans/steps/script/ScriptAddedFunctions.java:1943

    if ( ArgList.length == 1 ) {
      try {
        Object[] newRow = (Object[]) ArgList[0];

        Object scmO = actualObject.get( "_step_" );
        try {
          Script step = (Script) scmO;
          step.putRow( step.getOutputRowMeta(), newRow );
        } catch ( Exception e ) {
          ScriptDummy step = (ScriptDummy) scmO;
          step.putRow( step.getOutputRowMeta(), newRow );
        }

      } catch ( Exception e ) {
        throw new RuntimeException( "Unable to pass the new row to the next step(s) because of an error: "
          + Const.CR + e.toString() );
      }
    } else {
      throw new RuntimeException( "The function call putRow requires 1 argument : the output row data (Object[])" );
    }
  }

  public static void deleteFile( Bowl bowl, ScriptEngine actualContext, Bindings actualObject, Object[] ArgList,
    Object FunctionContext ) {

    try {
      if ( ArgList.length == 1 && !isNull( ArgList[0] ) && !isUndefined( ArgList[0] ) ) {
        // Object act = actualObject.get("_step_", actualObject);
        // ScriptValuesMod act = (ScriptValuesMod)Context.toType(scm_delete, ScriptValuesMod.class);

        FileObject fileObject = null;

        try {
          fileObject = KettleVFS.getInstance( bowl ).getFileObject( (String) ArgList[0] );
          if ( fileObject.exists() ) {
            if ( fileObject.getType() == FileType.FILE ) {
              if ( !fileObject.delete() ) {

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