Event Windows Java Agent hangs with NullPointerException because "path" is null"

Products

• CA Automic Workload Automation - Automation Engine

Issue/Introduction

A File Event is launched against a Windows Java Agent to check for a file that still is not present in the target path:

• The file is checked and since it's not present the status remain in Checking but after that first check it hangs and is not checked again.
• When the Event starts the following exception is shown in agent log:

U00045014 Exception 'java.lang.NullPointerException: "Cannot invoke "java.nio.file.Path.toString()" because "path" is null"' at 'sun.nio.fs.WindowsFileSystem$2.matches():289'.

And the stack trace that is printed in the agent force trace is:

java.lang.NullPointerException: Cannot invoke "java.nio.file.Path.toString()" because "path" is null
    at java.base/sun.nio.fs.WindowsFileSystem$2.matches(WindowsFileSystem.java:289)
    at com.automic.agent.files.PosixPathMatcher.matches(PosixPathMatcher.java:21)
    at com.automic.agent.files.FileSelection.matches(FileSelection.java:165)
    at com.automic.agent.file.event.AbstractFileEventVisitor.directoryMatches(AbstractFileEventVisitor.java:109)
    at com.automic.agent.files.AbstractFileVisitor.preVisitDirectory(AbstractFileVisitor.java:103)
    at com.automic.agent.file.event.AbstractFileEventVisitor.preVisitDirectory(AbstractFileEventVisitor.java:99)
    at com.automic.agent.file.event.AbstractFileEventVisitor.preVisitDirectory(AbstractFileEventVisitor.java:26)
    at java.base/java.nio.file.Files.walkFileTree(Files.java:2817)

The same Event works fine when launched against a C-Based Windows Agent 21.x.

Environment

Agent Windows Java 21.x and 24.x

Cause

DE172804

Resolution

Update to a fix version listed below or a newer version if available.

Fix version:
Component(s): Agent Windows Java
Automation.Engine 21.0.15 - Planned release October 2025
Automation.Engine 24.4.1 HF2 - Planned release Second Half August 2025
Automation.Engine 24.4.2 - Planned release October 2025

Additional Information

Public Title: Issue with the Windows Agent handling FILE Events

Public Description: A problem has been fixed that prevented FILE Events from working properly with the Windows Agent.