How to access document cache from Boomi groovy scripting

[Tom42Gamer]

What are the main restrictions when working with Boomi groovy scripts and how can I work around them?

I’ve run into some issues that really limit what I can do:

First problem: I can’t access document cache from within my groovy script. This makes it impossible to merge data from different document caches or do lookups properly. The weird part is that I can do this same thing in a map function column, so why not in scripts?

Second problem: The standard groovy JSON libraries don’t seem to work as expected. Parsing JSON strings becomes much harder than it should be. Maybe I need to add custom jars to the runtime?

The first issue is really blocking me from doing what I need. The JSON thing is annoying but manageable. Has anyone found good ways to handle these limitations? I feel like scripting should be more powerful in an integration platform.

[Ethan_19Chess]

Document cache isolation in Groovy scripts happens because the scripting runtime runs in a different context than mapping operations. I’ve hit this limitation tons of times - here’s what works: don’t try to force direct cache access. Instead, create a pre-processing step that pulls the cache values you need into custom document properties using a map function. Then just grab those properties in your script with standard retrieval methods. You get clean separation but still access your data. For JSON handling - I gave up on external libraries after too many deployment headaches. The platform’s native JSON handling through standard connectors plus basic string manipulation in scripts works way better. Need complex JSON operations? Split the work - use map functions for parsing and scripts for business logic instead of cramming everything into one place.

[nateharris]

The Problem: You’re unable to access Boomi document cache from within your Groovy scripts, preventing proper data merging and lookups, despite being able to perform similar actions in map function columns. Additionally, you’re encountering difficulties using standard Groovy JSON libraries within your Boomi scripts.

Understanding the “Why” (The Root Cause):

The primary issue stems from Boomi’s architectural design. Groovy scripts execute within a sandboxed environment isolated from the main data processing flow used by map functions. This isolation prevents direct access to the document cache available to map operations. The different execution contexts are a deliberate design choice aimed at security and stability; it limits what your script can directly interact with. Attempting to use external JSON libraries within the Boomi Groovy environment can often lead to conflicts and failures due to version mismatches or runtime limitations.

Step-by-Step Guide:

1. Accessing Document Cache Data: Instead of directly accessing the document cache within your Groovy script, use a pre-processing step. Employ a Boomi map function to retrieve the necessary data from the document cache and store it in dynamic document properties. Your Groovy script can then access this data using dataContext.getProperties().

   • Example (Map Function): Suppose your document cache contains a field named customerID and you need to access it in your script. Your map function should read this field and store it in a custom property, such as customerID_prop.

   • Example (Groovy Script): Within your Groovy script, retrieve the value using:

   String customerID = dataContext.getProperties().get("customerID_prop");
   

2. Handling JSON Data: Avoid using external JSON libraries within your Boomi Groovy scripts. Boomi’s runtime environment may conflict with these libraries, causing errors during deployment or execution. Use Boomi’s built-in com.boomi.util.JsonUtil class for simpler JSON operations or rely on standard Groovy string manipulation (with regular expressions) for more complex tasks. Alternatively, preprocess JSON data using a map function before it reaches the Groovy script.

   • Example (Using JsonUtil): If you receive JSON data in a document property jsonData_prop, you can parse it:

   import com.boomi.util.JsonUtil;
   def jsonObject = JsonUtil.parseJson(dataContext.getProperties().get("jsonData_prop"));
   def customerName = jsonObject.customerName;
   

   • Example (String Manipulation): For simpler JSON strings, you can use string manipulation directly:

   String jsonString = dataContext.getProperties().get("jsonData_prop");
   String customerName = jsonString.substring(jsonString.indexOf("\"customerName\":\"") + 15, jsonString.indexOf("\",\"age\""));
   

Common Pitfalls & What to Check Next:

• Property Name Mismatches: Double-check that the property names used in your map function and Groovy script are identical. Case sensitivity matters.
• Data Type Mismatches: Ensure that you correctly handle data type conversions between the map function and the Groovy script.
• Complex JSON Structures: For highly complex JSON structures, consider additional preprocessing steps using Boomi’s map functions to extract data before feeding it to your Groovy script.

Still running into issues? Share your (sanitized) config files, the exact command you ran, and any other relevant details. The community is here to help!

[Laura219]

totally getcha, man! that doc cache thing is super frustrating. I’ve had to use exec props too, not my fav but it gets the job done. for json, just roll with boomi’s own libraries, they’re much more reliable! good luck!

[Tom_89Paint]

Yeah, that document cache limitation in Groovy scripts is a known pain point in Boomi. The scripting engine runs separately from mapping functions - that’s why cache access works in map columns but breaks in scripts. I work around this by passing cached values as execution properties before the script step, then grabbing them with ExecutionUtil.getExecutionProperty(). Not pretty, but it gets the job done.

For JSON parsing - don’t even bother with external libraries. Boomi’s runtime constantly conflicts with standard Groovy JSON parsers. Just use the built-in com.boomi.util.JsonUtil class or do basic string manipulation with regex for simple JSON stuff. Trust me, the platform’s standard JSON handling through connectors and maps is way more reliable than trying to jam external libraries into scripts.