#46 servletContext().setAttribute(name, null) throws NPE in wl51

[Anonymous]

There exists a problem with strutstest and weblogic 5.1

Every time, I start a test, a null pointer is thrown.
The trace suggests, that the NPE happens, when Weblogic
sets a null-reference into the ServletContext which is
mapped internally as a HashTable. (See attached file)

A HashTable does not allow a null-reference as value in
the set-method, so that is why the excpetion is thrown
from the hashtable implementation.

This is frustrating, because the javadoc of
ServletContext clearly states that the usage of
setAttribute("key", null) is identical to the method
removeAttribute( "key" ), but due to internals of wl
5.1, it does not work this way.

My workaround:
I changed two lines in the method getActionServlet
(line 410+421) of CactusStrutsTestCase from
410> config.getServletContext().setAttribute(name, null);
421> config.getServletContext().setAttribute(name +
moduleName, null);

to
410> config.getServletContext().removeAttribute(name);
421> config.getServletContext().removeAttribute(name +
moduleName);

and everthing works fine with wl51.

I noticed this problem with strutstest2.0

I would highly appreciate it, if the patch could become
part of strutstest. Everyone who still uses weblogic
5.1 will be gratefull.

[Nobody/Anonymous]

exception trace

[Nobody/Anonymous]

Logged In: NO

This bug also exists in WLS8.1 and strutstest-2.1.0.
The workaround solves the problem.

anders.janmyr@jayway.se

[Deryl Seale]

Logged In: YES
user_id=366284

Fixed in latest release.