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Dynamic Data and xmlrpc

Posted by: Samiuela LV Taufa on May 22, 2006 12:15:10 AM

Been having a problem the last couple of days and I've finally tracked down the root cause/effect to the problem, although I have yet to figure out who is actually at fault so I can submit a proper bug.

Problem Summary:

1. Add a Dynamic Data Field - xarTinyMCE GUI to Article News PubType

2. Submit/Edit an entry from a desktop client through metaweblogapi newpost/editpost.

NewPost|EditPost fails with xmlresponse from the server returning the following:

My Code Noted Error Message:

NewPost Dynamic Data and xmlrpc - failed
Response from server does not contain valid XML.
There are multiple root elements. Line 2, position 2.

Response from Server
 
Notice: Undefined index: in ./modules/xmlrpcserver/xarincludes/xmlrpc.inc on line 826 
 
Warning: Cannot modify header information - headers already sent by (output started at ./modules/xmlrpcserver/xarincludes/xmlrpc.inc:826) in ./modules/xmlrpcserver/xarincludes/xmlrpcs.inc on line 78 
 
Warning: Cannot modify header information - headers already sent by (output started at ./modules/xmlrpcserver/xarincludes/xmlrpc.inc:826) in ./modules/xmlrpcserver/xarincludes/xmlrpcs.inc on line 79 
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<methodResponse>
<fault>
<value>
<struct>
 <member>
 <name>faultCode</name>
 <value>
<int>1600</int>

Partial completion of task has been achieved. (a) Article has been successfully submitted. Unfortunately (at least using MoveableType API) the category and keywords have not been set.

Problem Solution

Remove the Dynamic Data Field from the pubtype.

More Information

How to duplicate the problem.

1. Edit the Article News Pubtype and add a Dynamic Data Field of Property Type "TinyMCE GUI Editor" (Problem will occur if Status is "Active" or "Hidden", problem does not occur if Status is "Display Only.")

2. Create a NewPost or EditPost from an xmlrpc metaweblogapi/moveabletype client.

What tracing (little) information I have found.

a. When you do an xmlrpc call to metaweblogapi.newpost/editpost somewhere in that function call is a call to modules/articles/xaradminapi/create.php or update.php.

b. xarModCallHooks('item', 'create', $aid, $args); is called to update the Hooks with either 'create' or 'update'

c. When the hooks eventually get to Dynamic Data it eventually gets to modules/dynamicdata/xaradminapi/updatehook.php

d. In this api processes, and there is a validation failure:

    $myobject->getItem();
    // use the values passed via $extrainfo if available
    $isvalid = $myobject->checkInput($extrainfo);
    if (!$isvalid) {

The validation failure leads an exception being set

xarErrorSet(XAR_USER_EXCEPTION, 'BAD_DATA', new DefaultUserException($msg));

The above generates the following log entry

Logged error: code: 1 BAD_DATA | Invalid input for admin function updatehook() in module dynamicdata :

5. calls eventually return to newpost|editpost, which not noting the exception calls xmlrpcserver/xaruserapi/createresponse.php as a success

6. After module call, the Exception handler kicks in, noted by the below entries in the log file.

[DEBUG] Using template : modules/xmlrpcserver/xartemplates/xmlrpc-createresponse.xd
[DEBUG] Using template : modules/xmlrpcserver/xartemplates/includes/xmlrpc-types.xd
[WARNING] Issuing errorno 800: User Error: Bad Data: The data provided was bad.

I am drawing the conclusion that the xmlrpc response is corrupted during this exception handling process.

I'm not sure whether this error should be handled in the updatehook or in the exception handler or in xmlrpc.

Visit bTonga

It is a relief to find the error and know that I don't have to rewrite some portion of my client software. whew!!! wipes sweat off forehead.