DictionaryToDataTable<String,Object> - is it asynchronous or synchronous ?

Permanently deleted user

February 19, 2016 05:23

Hello everyone

I'm having issues with debuging the workflow in sequence :

If the alert statement is present as per screenshot the workflow crashes with exception that dataTableMap is not set. ( note : Dictionary's object contains Bitmap object size about 1.4Mb )
If the alert is commented out workflow runs correctly.

It seems to me that Alert statement is fired up before DictionaryToDataTable<String,Object> is completed.

Anyone has this kind of timing issues?

How to ensure that Alert is fired after previous statement is compelted?

I would like to hear your thoughts.

Comments

3 comments

Ryan Cooney

February 19, 2016 06:32
The Dictionary To DataTable activity is synchronous. Also activities in a Sequence will always run synchronously regardless of whether individual activities are sync or async.

Your workflow fails when you add the Alert because the Alert activity runs in the client/viewer application rather than on the server. This means that the workflow must save the state of all the variables currently in scope (serialization), unload the workflow, and transfer the saved state and the Alert instruction to the viewer. Once the viewer completes the Alert control is transferred back to the server where it attempts to rehydrate the state of the variables (deserialization). Objects like DataTables, Dictionaries and Bitmaps don't necessarily survive the serialization/deserialization process.

I prefer to do debugging like this using the Log activity rather than with Alert. Since Log runs on the server it avoids introducing unexpected consequences of client/server communication.

--Ryan
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Tom Neer

February 19, 2016 17:40
Ryan your response needs to be added to the Knowledge Base.
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Permanently deleted user

February 19, 2016 21:20
Thanks Ryan for the great response, it makes sense now.
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