ADF Troubleshooting

Step by Step Guide

Vinod Krishnan
3/24/2012

Initial Stage
Debugging the Issue:
Debugging the problem is the important step in finding the problem in ADF Application. If you
are able to debug the application flow then there is a possible chance of pointing out the problem
in the first place. Debugging help us to understand where and when the problem arises.
In ADF Application you can debug the issue by placing the breakpoints in Java class file and
also in Task Flows. To know more about debugging follow this link
If we are able to identify the problem and fix it then its good. Otherwise note down the problem
and move to next step
Look for Errors:
After debugging the issues we are sure that the outcome will result in

What is the problem?

Where is the problem occurring?
When is the problem occurring?

Most of the time we have the exception thrown to the user or in the console. Its easy foe
advanced user to identify the cause of the issue when the exception or the error is thrown. Also
the exceptions that occur will be self explanatory but its hard for newbie to spot the root cause.
Its always advised to find the exception or error for the clear understanding of the problem. So
we have to find a way to get these exceptions thrown. These are the qualified places to look for
errors and exceptions

JDeveloper Console For integrated server

Weblogic Console if its a standalone deployment

This link will help you to find the errors and also some standard practice to look for exceptions
by preparing the application to log the application events using a Logger file.
After seeing the Exceptions
Search for Errors online
By this time you would have got the exception or the error in your hand. So doesnt waste time
start searching for the error in

To Search in Google efficiently follow this link

OTN Forum link is here
Documentation (11.1.1.6) link is here
Oracle Support link is here

Eg. If this is the error that you are getting

oracle.adf.controller.internal.AdfcIllegalStateException:
0
oracle.adf.controller.ControllerException: ADFC-12003: The page flow scope
1
stack is empty.
at
0
oracle.adfinternal.controller.state.PageFlowStackEntry.getPageFlowScope(Pag
2
eFlowStackEntry.java:271)
at
0
oracle.adfinternal.controller.state.ViewPortContextImpl.getCurrentStateInsta
3
nce(ViewPortContextImpl.java:594)
at
0
oracle.adfinternal.controller.state.RequestState.setCurrentViewPortContext(
4
RequestState.java:200)
at
0
oracle.adfinternal.controller.state.ControllerState.setRequestState(Control
5
lerState.java:948)
at
0
oracle.adfinternal.controller.state.ControllerState.synchronizeStatePart1(C
6
ontrollerState.java:360)
at
0
oracle.adfinternal.controller.application.SyncNavigationStateListener.before
7
Phase(SyncNavigationStateListener.java:127)
at
0
oracle.adfinternal.controller.lifecycle.ADFLifecycleImpl$PagePhaseListenerWr
8
apper.beforePhase(ADFLifecycleImpl.java:551)
at
0
oracle.adfinternal.controller.lifecycle.LifecycleImpl.internalDispatchBefore
9
Event(LifecycleImpl.java:100)

at
1
oracle.adfinternal.controller.lifecycle.LifecycleImpl.dispatchBeforePagePhas
0
eEvent(LifecycleImpl.java:147)
at
1
oracle.adfinternal.controller.faces.lifecycle.ADFPhaseListener$PhaseInvokerI
1
mpl.dispatchBeforePagePhaseEvent(ADFPhaseListener.java:112)
at
1
oracle.adfinternal.controller.faces.lifecycle.ADFPhaseListener.beforePhase(
2
ADFPhaseListener.java:59)
13 ...

Options to search
1.
2.
3.
4.

oracle.adf.controller.internal.AdfcIllegalStateException (common search term)

oracle.adf.controller.ControllerException (common search term)
ADFC-12003: The page flow scope stack is empty (common search term)
ADFC-12003 you are widening the scope of the search if the above search term is not
helping you
5. oracle.adfinternal.controller.state.PageFlowStackEntry.getPageFlowScope this
will help you to identify when this problem arises
6. PageFlowStackEntry.java:271 strike the hammer at the point
Note: If you want to find issues similar to this in otn then give like ADFC-12003 + OTN
Analysis Stage
You will come to this stage if you are not success with the above approach to identify the issue.
Are you trying some new Feature?

Check if Jdeveloper/ADF release supports the feature check known issues

Is this a Connection Problem?

Check the connection, and make sure if you are able to connect to the DB properly.
Make sure that you have configured the Data Source properly.
Is the Databindings.cpx points to the correct application module configuration

Is it a common Java Issue?

Class path issue Check if the libraries are there in the class path and if you have added
the libraries to the project.
Did you add the correct libraries to the project
make sure that you Deploy by Default the libaries that you add
Common Exceptions NullPointerException, ArithmeticException,
NumberFormatingException etc

If these errors are shown inside the framework then check if you are doing what is
expected and you are sure to check how it works.

Is this a common JEE Issue?

Deployment issue this can be related to configurations in web.xml, weblogic.xml or

weblogic-application.xml. Check if this can be solved using the parameters, filters or
servlet mapping in web.xml
Session related issue This can be again related to web.xml and session handling
Transaction issue configurations related to adfc-config.xml

Configuration Issue?

All configuration parameters are here

Page Refresh Issue?

Check iterator refresh condition property

Check the changeeventpolicy in iterator
is the partialsubmit or the autosubmit is working as expected
cross check with the immediate property
Check the partial triggers property

Security Issue?

May be related to jazn-data.xml, is the system-data.xml getting updated with the User and
Roles
the configurations are done in web.xml, weblogic.xml
Check security settings in weblogic server.
Check security setting for the folders also, sometimes the server needs full permission for
some updates. This may also cause some problem

Intermittent Issue?

This may be related to Clustering. Cross check with clustering of ADF Application
adf-config.xml has some property for clustering. check that

Memory Issue?

Increase the Heap size for the application and try

make your application more performance to overcome any memory issues

Data Issue?

Check if the DB data is proper

Run the query in the back end to make sure that you get the proper result

Change not reflecting?

Do a clean build and try to run again. make sure you generate the classes again
remove drs folder in system folder or remove the DefaultDomain folder or remove the
complete system folder and try from scratch

Not sure about the problem?

Cross check our logic,never assume that your logic is correct, try to alter the logic ,ask
your peer to review the logic (others will have an extra eye on the problem and the
approach)
Read the Documentation again to check how the component works and make sure that
you completely understand it

Note: Most of the issues listed above are common issues, you will get all related issues when you
search online or in Oracle Forums. I believe that Only 5% of the issues can be considered as
never experienced by others. So most of the issues that the user experience will be already
discussed in the future. So do search the Oracle forums or Google to get your issues solved.
Submission Stage
Post a Forum Question

This stage is like you are asking for help from the experts who has some expertise in the
area.
Wait for the answers, if you are not getting an answer ask for it again one or two times
If someone post for your question then try to validate that. Dont ignore if someone who
is not an expert replied to our post. Its better to try all possible ways.
If you get an answer, try that and update the post about your findings even if the issue is
fixed. This will help some other person who is facing similar issue like you

Raise for help from Oracle

If you have tried all possible options above then you have to wait for Oracle to help you.

Raise an SR