Can't Create XML backup due to NULL directory description
Platform Notice: Data Center Only - This article only applies to Atlassian products on the Data Center platform.
Note that this KB was created for the Data Center version of the product. Data Center KBs for non-Data-Center-specific features may also work for Server versions of the product, however they have not been tested. Support for Server* products ended on February 15th 2024. If you are running a Server product, you can visit the Atlassian Server end of support announcement to review your migration options.
*Except Fisheye and Crucible
Symptoms
Unable to create Crowd XML backup
The following appears in the atlassian-crowd.log:
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2013-03-15 13:28:33,655 http-29000-18 INFO [atlassian.xwork.interceptors.TransactionalInvocation] Invoking rollback for transaction on action '/console/secure/admin/backup.action (Backup.default())' due to throwable: java.lang.NullPointerException
java.lang.NullPointerException
at java.util.Hashtable.put(Hashtable.java:394)
at java.util.Properties.setProperty(Properties.java:143)
at com.atlassian.crowd.dao.directory.DirectoryPropertiesMapper.exportProperties(DirectoryPropertiesMapper.java:222)
at com.atlassian.crowd.file.FileConfigurationExporter.exportDirectories(FileConfigurationExporter.java:26)
Cause
There are directories in Crowd with a NULL description. This happens due to the bug CWD-3216 - Crowd creates NULL DB values for any blank text box in a directory configuration.
Resolution
Run the following query in the Crowd Database to identify the exact directories causing the issue:
1select * from cwd_directory where description is null;Navigate to those directories in
Crowd >> Directories, and set a description for each of them. Re-attempt the XML export again
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