jax-ws handler causing exception

[vik ar]

Hi I have developed a jax-ws app. When I fire off a SOAP message it goes into the endpoint impl fine. However when I introduce a handler, I fire off the same SOAP and I can debug through the handleMessage() method but after it returns true it throws the exception below. It doesnt go to the endpoint impl and it doesnt go to the handlefault() method. Any ideas?

<faultcode>soapenv:Server</faultcode>
<faultstring>javax.xml.bind.UnmarshalException
- with linked exception:
[java.lang.NullPointerException]</faultstring>

[Ivan Krizsan]

Hi!
It sounds like you do something wrong in your handler. It is difficult to tell exactly what, since you haven't included the code of the handler.
Below is the code of a JAX-WS handler that logs SOAP messages, showing how a handler can be implemented:

package com.ivan.handlers; 
import java.util.Collections; 
import java.util.Map; 
import java.util.Set; 
import javax.servlet.http.HttpServletRequest; 
import javax.xml.namespace.QName; 
import javax.xml.soap.SOAPMessage; 
import javax.xml.ws.handler.MessageContext; 
import javax.xml.ws.handler.soap.SOAPHandler; 
import javax.xml.ws.handler.soap.SOAPMessageContext; 
/** 
 * This class implements a handler that logs SOAP messages passing 
 * through it. The messages are not altered in any way. Data is output 
 * to the console. 
 * 
 * @author Ivan A Krizsan 
 */ 
public class SOAPLogHandler implements SOAPHandler<SOAPMessageContext> 
{ 
    /* 
     * (non-Javadoc) 
     * 
     * @see javax.xml.ws.handler.soap.SOAPHandler#getHeaders() 
     */ 
    public Set<QName> getHeaders() 
    { 
        /* 
         * Returning an empty set means the handler does not process 
         * any headers. 
         */ 
        return Collections.EMPTY_SET; 
    } 
    /* 
     * (non-Javadoc) 
     * 
     * @seejavax.xml.ws.handler.Handler#close(javax.xml.ws.handler. 
     * MessageContext) 
          */ 
    public void close(final MessageContext inMessageContext) 
    { 
        /* Does nothing. */ 
    } 
    /* 
     * (non-Javadoc) 
     * 
     * @see 
     * javax.xml.ws.handler.Handler#handleFault(javax.xml.ws.handler 
     * .MessageContext) 
     */ 
    public boolean handleFault(final SOAPMessageContext inSOAPMsgContext) 
    { 
        System.out.println("********** A SOAP fault was received:"); 
        logSOAPMessage(inSOAPMsgContext); 
        
        /* 
         * Returning true means that message processing is to 
         * continue. 
         */ 
        return true; 
    } 
    /* 
     * (non-Javadoc) 
     * 
     * @see 
     * javax.xml.ws.handler.Handler#handleMessage(javax.xml.ws.handler 
     * .MessageContext) 
     */ 
    public boolean handleMessage(final SOAPMessageContext inSOAPMsgContext) 
    { 
        System.out.println("********** A SOAP message was received:"); 
        logSOAPMessage(inSOAPMsgContext); 
        /* 
         * Returning true means that message processing is to 
         * continue. 
         */ 
        return true; 
    } 
    private void logSOAPMessage(final SOAPMessageContext inSOAPMsgContext) 
    { 
        Boolean theOutboundFlag; 
        Map theHTTPRequestHdrs; 
        String theDirectionString; 
        String theHTTPMethod; 
        Integer theResponseCode; 
        Map theHTTPResponseHdrs; 
        String theReqPathInfo; 
        String theQueryString; 
        QName theWSDLService; 
        QName theWSDLInterface; 
        QName theWSDLOperation; 
        QName theWSDLPort; 
        SOAPMessage theMsg; 
        HttpServletRequest theServletReq; 
        /* Retrive data to log from the message context. */ 
        theServletReq = 
            (HttpServletRequest)inSOAPMsgContext 
                .get(MessageContext.SERVLET_REQUEST); 
        theOutboundFlag = 
            (Boolean)inSOAPMsgContext 
                .get(MessageContext.MESSAGE_OUTBOUND_PROPERTY); 
        theHTTPRequestHdrs = 
            (Map)inSOAPMsgContext.get(MessageContext.HTTP_REQUEST_HEADERS); 
        theHTTPMethod = 
            (String)inSOAPMsgContext.get(MessageContext.HTTP_REQUEST_METHOD); 
        theResponseCode = 
            (Integer)inSOAPMsgContext.get(MessageContext.HTTP_RESPONSE_CODE); 
        theHTTPResponseHdrs = 
            (Map)inSOAPMsgContext.get(MessageContext.HTTP_RESPONSE_HEADERS); 
        theReqPathInfo = (String)inSOAPMsgContext.get(MessageContext.PATH_INFO);
         theQueryString = 
            (String)inSOAPMsgContext.get(MessageContext.QUERY_STRING); 
        theWSDLService = 
            (QName)inSOAPMsgContext.get(MessageContext.WSDL_SERVICE); 
        theWSDLInterface = 
            (QName)inSOAPMsgContext.get(MessageContext.WSDL_INTERFACE); 
        theWSDLOperation = 
            (QName)inSOAPMsgContext.get(MessageContext.WSDL_OPERATION); 
        theWSDLPort = (QName)inSOAPMsgContext.get(MessageContext.WSDL_PORT); 
        theMsg = inSOAPMsgContext.getMessage(); 
        /* Print logging data to console. */ 
        if (theServletReq != null) 
        { 
            System.out.println("     Request URL from servlet request: " 
                + theServletReq.getRequestURL()); 
        } 
        theDirectionString = (theOutboundFlag) ? "Outbound" : "Inbound"; 
        System.out.println("     Message direction: " + theDirectionString); 
        System.out.println("     HTTP request headers: " + theHTTPRequestHdrs); 
        System.out.println("     HTTP request method: " + theHTTPMethod); 
        System.out 
            .println("     HTTP response headers: " + theHTTPResponseHdrs); 
        System.out.println("     HTTP response code: " + theResponseCode); 
        System.out.println("     HTTP request path info: " + theReqPathInfo); 
        System.out.println("     HTTP query string: " + theQueryString); 
        System.out.println("     WSDL service: " + theWSDLService); 
        System.out.println("     WSDL interface: " + theWSDLInterface); 
        System.out.println("     WSDL operation: " + theWSDLOperation); 
        System.out.println("     WSDL port: " + theWSDLPort); 
        try 
        { 
            theMsg.writeTo(System.out); 
        } catch (Exception theException) 
        { 
            theException.printStackTrace(); 
        } 
    } 
} 

Try to use the above handler with your service and/or client. If you still get an exception, there is something else wrong.
Best wishes!

[vik ar]

I am still getting exception with your handler. I should also mention I am using was7. Exception trace in SystemOut as follows:

[java.lang.NullPointerException]
	at org.apache.axis2.jaxws.ExceptionFactory.createWebServiceException(ExceptionFactory.java:175)
	at org.apache.axis2.jaxws.ExceptionFactory.makeWebServiceException(ExceptionFactory.java:70)
	at org.apache.axis2.jaxws.ExceptionFactory.makeWebServiceException(ExceptionFactory.java:128)
	at org.apache.axis2.jaxws.marshaller.impl.alt.DocLitBareMethodMarshaller.demarshalRequest(DocLitBareMethodMarshaller.java:195)
	at org.apache.axis2.jaxws.server.dispatcher.JavaBeanDispatcher.createRequestParameters(JavaBeanDispatcher.java:275)
	at org.apache.axis2.jaxws.server.dispatcher.JavaBeanDispatcher.invoke(JavaBeanDispatcher.java:82)
	at com.ibm.ws.websvcs.server.dispatcher.EJBBeanDispatcher.invoke(EJBBeanDispatcher.java:80)
	at org.apache.axis2.jaxws.server.EndpointController.invoke(EndpointController.java:109)
	at org.apache.axis2.jaxws.server.JAXWSMessageReceiver.receive(JAXWSMessageReceiver.java:159)
	at org.apache.axis2.engine.AxisEngine.receive(AxisEngine.java:188)
	at org.apache.axis2.transport.http.HTTPTransportUtils.processHTTPPostRequest(HTTPTransportUtils.java:275)
	at com.ibm.ws.websvcs.transport.http.WASAxis2Servlet.doPost(WASAxis2Servlet.java:1389)
	at javax.servlet.http.HttpServlet.service(HttpServlet.java:738)
	at javax.servlet.http.HttpServlet.service(HttpServlet.java:831)
	at com.ibm.ws.webcontainer.servlet.ServletWrapper.service(ServletWrapper.java:1530)
	at com.ibm.ws.webcontainer.servlet.ServletWrapper.handleRequest(ServletWrapper.java:829)
	at com.ibm.ws.webcontainer.servlet.ServletWrapper.handleRequest(ServletWrapper.java:458)
	at com.ibm.ws.webcontainer.servlet.ServletWrapperImpl.handleRequest(ServletWrapperImpl.java:175)
	at com.ibm.ws.webcontainer.servlet.CacheServletWrapper.handleRequest(CacheServletWrapper.java:91)
	at com.ibm.ws.webcontainer.WebContainer.handleRequest(WebContainer.java:862)
	at com.ibm.ws.webcontainer.WSWebContainer.handleRequest(WSWebContainer.java:1583)
	at com.ibm.ws.webcontainer.channel.WCChannelLink.ready(WCChannelLink.java:178)
	at com.ibm.ws.http.channel.inbound.impl.HttpInboundLink.handleDiscrimination(HttpInboundLink.java:455)
	at com.ibm.ws.http.channel.inbound.impl.HttpInboundLink.handleNewInformation(HttpInboundLink.java:384)
	at com.ibm.ws.http.channel.inbound.impl.HttpInboundLink.ready(HttpInboundLink.java:272)
	at com.ibm.ws.tcp.channel.impl.NewConnectionInitialReadCallback.sendToDiscriminators(NewConnectionInitialReadCallback.java:214)
	at com.ibm.ws.tcp.channel.impl.NewConnectionInitialReadCallback.complete(NewConnectionInitialReadCallback.java:113)
	at com.ibm.ws.tcp.channel.impl.AioReadCompletionListener.futureCompleted(AioReadCompletionListener.java:165)
	at com.ibm.io.async.AbstractAsyncFuture.invokeCallback(AbstractAsyncFuture.java:217)
	at com.ibm.io.async.AsyncChannelFuture.fireCompletionActions(AsyncChannelFuture.java:161)
	at com.ibm.io.async.AsyncFuture.completed(AsyncFuture.java:138)
	at com.ibm.io.async.ResultHandler.complete(ResultHandler.java:204)
	at com.ibm.io.async.ResultHandler.runEventProcessingLoop(ResultHandler.java:775)
	at com.ibm.io.async.ResultHandler$2.run(ResultHandler.java:905)
	at com.ibm.ws.util.ThreadPool$Worker.run(ThreadPool.java:1550)
Caused by: javax.xml.bind.UnmarshalException
 - with linked exception:
[java.lang.NullPointerException]
	at com.sun.xml.internal.bind.v2.runtime.unmarshaller.UnmarshallerImpl.handleStreamException(UnmarshallerImpl.java:415)
	at com.sun.xml.internal.bind.v2.runtime.unmarshaller.UnmarshallerImpl.unmarshal0(UnmarshallerImpl.java:342)
	at com.sun.xml.internal.bind.v2.runtime.unmarshaller.UnmarshallerImpl.unmarshal(UnmarshallerImpl.java:312)
	at com.ibm.xml.xlxp2.jaxb.unmarshal.UnmarshallerImpl.unmarshal(UnmarshallerImpl.java:289)
	at org.apache.axis2.datasource.jaxb.JAXBDSContext$6.run(JAXBDSContext.java:828)
	at org.apache.axis2.java.security.AccessController.doPrivileged(AccessController.java:76)
	at org.apache.axis2.datasource.jaxb.JAXBDSContext.unmarshalByElement(JAXBDSContext.java:825)
	at org.apache.axis2.datasource.jaxb.JAXBDSContext.unmarshal(JAXBDSContext.java:293)
	at org.apache.axis2.jaxws.message.databinding.impl.JAXBBlockImpl._getBOFromReader(JAXBBlockImpl.java:96)
	at org.apache.axis2.jaxws.message.impl.BlockImpl._getBOFromOM(BlockImpl.java:475)
	at org.apache.axis2.jaxws.message.databinding.impl.JAXBBlockImpl._getBOFromOM(JAXBBlockImpl.java:136)
	at org.apache.axis2.jaxws.message.impl.BlockImpl.getBusinessObject(BlockImpl.java:148)
	at org.apache.axis2.jaxws.message.impl.XMLSpineImpl._getBlockFromOMElement(XMLSpineImpl.java:597)
	at org.apache.axis2.jaxws.message.impl.XMLSpineImpl.getBodyBlock(XMLSpineImpl.java:337)
	at org.apache.axis2.jaxws.message.impl.XMLPartBase.getBodyBlock(XMLPartBase.java:521)
	at org.apache.axis2.jaxws.message.impl.MessageImpl.getBodyBlock(MessageImpl.java:666)
	at org.apache.axis2.jaxws.marshaller.impl.alt.MethodMarshallerUtils.getPDElements(MethodMarshallerUtils.java:329)
	at org.apache.axis2.jaxws.marshaller.impl.alt.DocLitBareMethodMarshaller.demarshalRequest(DocLitBareMethodMarshaller.java:183)
	... 31 more
Caused by: java.lang.NullPointerException
	at com.ibm.xtq.xslt.runtime.DOMBuilder.startElement(Unknown Source)
	at org.apache.xml.serializer.ToXMLSAXHandler.closeStartTag(Unknown Source)
	at org.apache.xml.serializer.ToSAXHandler.flushInternal(Unknown Source)
	at org.apache.xml.serializer.ToXMLSAXHandler.endElement(Unknown Source)
	at com.ibm.xtq.xslt.jaxp.TransformerHandlerImpl.endElement(Unknown Source)
	at com.sun.xml.internal.bind.v2.runtime.unmarshaller.DomLoader.leaveElement(DomLoader.java:126)
	at com.sun.xml.internal.bind.v2.runtime.unmarshaller.UnmarshallingContext.endElement(UnmarshallingContext.java:429)
	at com.sun.xml.internal.bind.v2.runtime.unmarshaller.MTOMDecorator.endElement(MTOMDecorator.java:93)
	at com.sun.xml.internal.bind.v2.runtime.unmarshaller.InterningXmlVisitor.endElement(InterningXmlVisitor.java:53)
	at com.sun.xml.internal.bind.v2.runtime.unmarshaller.StAXStreamConnector.handleEndElement(StAXStreamConnector.java:222)
	at com.sun.xml.internal.bind.v2.runtime.unmarshaller.StAXStreamConnector.bridge(StAXStreamConnector.java:186)
	at com.sun.xml.internal.bind.v2.runtime.unmarshaller.UnmarshallerImpl.unmarshal0(UnmarshallerImpl.java:340)
	... 47 more
---- Begin backtrace for Nested Throwables
java.lang.NullPointerException
	at com.ibm.xtq.xslt.runtime.DOMBuilder.startElement(Unknown Source)
	at org.apache.xml.serializer.ToXMLSAXHandler.closeStartTag(Unknown Source)
	at org.apache.xml.serializer.ToSAXHandler.flushInternal(Unknown Source)
	at org.apache.xml.serializer.ToXMLSAXHandler.endElement(Unknown Source)
	at com.ibm.xtq.xslt.jaxp.TransformerHandlerImpl.endElement(Unknown Source)
	at com.sun.xml.internal.bind.v2.runtime.unmarshaller.DomLoader.leaveElement(DomLoader.java:126)
	at com.sun.xml.internal.bind.v2.runtime.unmarshaller.UnmarshallingContext.endElement(UnmarshallingContext.java:429)
	at com.sun.xml.internal.bind.v2.runtime.unmarshaller.MTOMDecorator.endElement(MTOMDecorator.java:93)
	at com.sun.xml.internal.bind.v2.runtime.unmarshaller.InterningXmlVisitor.endElement(InterningXmlVisitor.java:53)
	at com.sun.xml.internal.bind.v2.runtime.unmarshaller.StAXStreamConnector.handleEndElement(StAXStreamConnector.java:222)
	at com.sun.xml.internal.bind.v2.runtime.unmarshaller.StAXStreamConnector.bridge(StAXStreamConnector.java:186)
	at com.sun.xml.internal.bind.v2.runtime.unmarshaller.UnmarshallerImpl.unmarshal0(UnmarshallerImpl.java:340)
	at com.sun.xml.internal.bind.v2.runtime.unmarshaller.UnmarshallerImpl.unmarshal(UnmarshallerImpl.java:312)
	at com.ibm.xml.xlxp2.jaxb.unmarshal.UnmarshallerImpl.unmarshal(UnmarshallerImpl.java:289)
	at org.apache.axis2.datasource.jaxb.JAXBDSContext$6.run(JAXBDSContext.java:828)
	at org.apache.axis2.java.security.AccessController.doPrivileged(AccessController.java:76)
	at org.apache.axis2.datasource.jaxb.JAXBDSContext.unmarshalByElement(JAXBDSContext.java:825)
	at org.apache.axis2.datasource.jaxb.JAXBDSContext.unmarshal(JAXBDSContext.java:293)
	at org.apache.axis2.jaxws.message.databinding.impl.JAXBBlockImpl._getBOFromReader(JAXBBlockImpl.java:96)
	at org.apache.axis2.jaxws.message.impl.BlockImpl._getBOFromOM(BlockImpl.java:475)
	at org.apache.axis2.jaxws.message.databinding.impl.JAXBBlockImpl._getBOFromOM(JAXBBlockImpl.java:136)
	at org.apache.axis2.jaxws.message.impl.BlockImpl.getBusinessObject(BlockImpl.java:148)
	at org.apache.axis2.jaxws.message.impl.XMLSpineImpl._getBlockFromOMElement(XMLSpineImpl.java:597)
	at org.apache.axis2.jaxws.message.impl.XMLSpineImpl.getBodyBlock(XMLSpineImpl.java:337)
	at org.apache.axis2.jaxws.message.impl.XMLPartBase.getBodyBlock(XMLPartBase.java:521)
	at org.apache.axis2.jaxws.message.impl.MessageImpl.getBodyBlock(MessageImpl.java:666)
	at org.apache.axis2.jaxws.marshaller.impl.alt.MethodMarshallerUtils.getPDElements(MethodMarshallerUtils.java:329)
	at org.apache.axis2.jaxws.marshaller.impl.alt.DocLitBareMethodMarshaller.demarshalRequest(DocLitBareMethodMarshaller.java:183)
	at org.apache.axis2.jaxws.server.dispatcher.JavaBeanDispatcher.createRequestParameters(JavaBeanDispatcher.java:275)
	at org.apache.axis2.jaxws.server.dispatcher.JavaBeanDispatcher.invoke(JavaBeanDispatcher.java:82)
	at com.ibm.ws.websvcs.server.dispatcher.EJBBeanDispatcher.invoke(EJBBeanDispatcher.java:80)
	at org.apache.axis2.jaxws.server.EndpointController.invoke(EndpointController.java:109)
	at org.apache.axis2.jaxws.server.JAXWSMessageReceiver.receive(JAXWSMessageReceiver.java:159)
	at org.apache.axis2.engine.AxisEngine.receive(AxisEngine.java:188)
	at org.apache.axis2.transport.http.HTTPTransportUtils.processHTTPPostRequest(HTTPTransportUtils.java:275)
	at com.ibm.ws.websvcs.transport.http.WASAxis2Servlet.doPost(WASAxis2Servlet.java:1389)
	at javax.servlet.http.HttpServlet.service(HttpServlet.java:738)
	at javax.servlet.http.HttpServlet.service(HttpServlet.java:831)
	at com.ibm.ws.webcontainer.servlet.ServletWrapper.service(ServletWrapper.java:1530)
	at com.ibm.ws.webcontainer.servlet.ServletWrapper.handleRequest(ServletWrapper.java:829)
	at com.ibm.ws.webcontainer.servlet.ServletWrapper.handleRequest(ServletWrapper.java:458)
	at com.ibm.ws.webcontainer.servlet.ServletWrapperImpl.handleRequest(ServletWrapperImpl.java:175)
	at com.ibm.ws.webcontainer.servlet.CacheServletWrapper.handleRequest(CacheServletWrapper.java:91)
	at com.ibm.ws.webcontainer.WebContainer.handleRequest(WebContainer.java:862)
	at com.ibm.ws.webcontainer.WSWebContainer.handleRequest(WSWebContainer.java:1583)
	at com.ibm.ws.webcontainer.channel.WCChannelLink.ready(WCChannelLink.java:178)
	at com.ibm.ws.http.channel.inbound.impl.HttpInboundLink.handleDiscrimination(HttpInboundLink.java:455)
	at com.ibm.ws.http.channel.inbound.impl.HttpInboundLink.handleNewInformation(HttpInboundLink.java:384)
	at com.ibm.ws.http.channel.inbound.impl.HttpInboundLink.ready(HttpInboundLink.java:272)
	at com.ibm.ws.tcp.channel.impl.NewConnectionInitialReadCallback.sendToDiscriminators(NewConnectionInitialReadCallback.java:214)
	at com.ibm.ws.tcp.channel.impl.NewConnectionInitialReadCallback.complete(NewConnectionInitialReadCallback.java:113)
	at com.ibm.ws.tcp.channel.impl.AioReadCompletionListener.futureCompleted(AioReadCompletionListener.java:165)
	at com.ibm.io.async.AbstractAsyncFuture.invokeCallback(AbstractAsyncFuture.java:217)
	at com.ibm.io.async.AsyncChannelFuture.fireCompletionActions(AsyncChannelFuture.java:161)
	at com.ibm.io.async.AsyncFuture.completed(AsyncFuture.java:138)
	at com.ibm.io.async.ResultHandler.complete(ResultHandler.java:204)
	at com.ibm.io.async.ResultHandler.runEventProcessingLoop(ResultHandler.java:775)
	at com.ibm.io.async.ResultHandler$2.run(ResultHandler.java:905)
	at com.ibm.ws.util.ThreadPool$Worker.run(ThreadPool.java:1550)   

[Ivan Krizsan]

Hi!
Ah, WAS... Sadly(?) I do not have any experience of WAS.
I have only tested my handler with the JAX-WS reference implementation (Metro) in GlassFish.
Best wishes!

[vik ar]

Any ideas? LogicalHandler is working fine for me. Just a problem with SOAPHandler

[vik ar]

i have found what is causing the exception. one of the elements in my soap has an attribute as follows: <person id="-1"/>. when i remove the attribute the message gets to the endpoint impl fine. Any ideas?