Clicking on a Project's Workflow Tab Results in Step cannot be null
Platform Notice: Data Center Only - This article only applies to Atlassian apps 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
In JIRA's administration menu, select a project and click on the Workflow tab. This results in an error message as follows:
java.lang.IllegalArgumentException: Step cannot be null. at com.atlassian.jira.workflow.AbstractJiraWorkflow.getLinkedStatusObject(AbstractJiraWorkflow.java:254) at com.atlassian.jira.projectconfig.contextproviders.WorkflowContextProvider.createWorkflow(WorkflowContextProvider.java:214) at com.atlassian.jira.projectconfig.contextproviders.WorkflowContextProvider.addWorkflowData(WorkflowContextProvider.java:135) at com.atlassian.jira.projectconfig.contextproviders.WorkflowContextProvider.getContextMap(WorkflowContextProvider.java:80)While viewing workflow steps, you see a missing step:
The following appears in the
atlassian-jira.log:2012-03-08 17:32:44,064 http-6060-9 ERROR [500ErrorPage.jsp] Exception caught in 500 page Step cannot be null. java.lang.IllegalArgumentException: Step cannot be null. at com.atlassian.jira.workflow.AbstractJiraWorkflow.getLinkedStatusObject(AbstractJiraWorkflow.java:254) at com.atlassian.jira.projectconfig.contextproviders.WorkflowContextProvider.createWorkflow(WorkflowContextProvider.java:214) at com.atlassian.jira.projectconfig.contextproviders.WorkflowContextProvider.addWorkflowData(WorkflowContextProvider.java:135)
Cause
There is a missing Step within a project's workflow transition.
Resolution
Edit the Workflow Transition to add a Step
Create a draft of the existing workflow and edit the transition to add a step.
Detailed instructions on this is available at Configuring Workflows
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