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Created by Jacob Brauer, last modified by Nick Rupley on May 12, 2015

This guide will show you how to create a custom Java class, compile/package it into a JAR, include it in Mirth Connect, and invoke it in JavaScript. Your custom code can be invoked from any JavaScript context, including the global/channel scripts, filters/transformers, and JavaScript connectors.

A working development environment, including the JDK (Java Development Kit). Generally you should use the same version of Java that your Mirth Connect server is using.

You can look here to see how to set up Eclipse to checkout and develop Mirth Connect, but it's an optional step. For this example we'll just use a single .java file and a command-line terminal.

First create the class(es) you want to invoke from Mirth Connect. You may import internal Mirth Connect packages if you need to extend some class or implement some interface (see here for an example of extending AcceptMessage for a custom Web Service Listener), but you certainly don't need to. This example will just use a simple POJO called JarTest:

JarTest.java

package com.example;

public class JarTest {

    public String returnSomething() {
        return "Hello, World!";
    }
}

Note that it must have the package name declared. You can implement your code in a single class or using many classes.

Put your newly created JarTest.java file in the following structure:

• src
  • com
    • example
      • JarTest.java
• classes

Note how there are two top-level folders, src and classes. The src folder will contain your source files (.java), and the classes folder will contain your compiled class files (.class).

Now you need to convert your source code into compiled class files, which will be included in the JAR. In a command-line terminal, navigate to the top-level folder that contains your src and classes folders. Then do this:

javac -d classes src/com/example/*

If you need to include other libraries in the classpath, use the -cp option. Type "javac -help" for the full set of options.

Now you should have JarTest.class in the classes/com/example folder, so the next step is to archive it into a JAR file. In the same top-level directory as before, do this:

jar -cf JarTest.jar -C classes com

The -c option means you're creating a new archive, and -f specifies the filename to output with. The -C option changes the working directory before adding files. Finally, the "com" at the end indicates what files/folders to include in the archive.

You can also compile source files and create a JAR in one step in Eclipse, with the export feature.

You will be able to use the custom class anywhere JavaScript is used. For example, you can create a new channel that uses a JavaScript Writer destination, and use the following code:

var obj = new Packages.com.example.JarTest();
logger.info(obj.returnSomething());

At first this channel won't yet work; we need to include the JAR that we just created.

• • Drop the JAR file into the lib/custom folder (for version 1.8.2 or earlier) or custom-lib (for versions 2.0.0 through 3.1.1) under your Mirth Connect home directory. This way, the classloader should be able to locate it.
  • Restart the Mirth Connect service, and login to the Administrator.

• • In 3.2 or later you can define custom resources to point to any directory you want. So you can drop the JAR file into the custom-lib folder, or create a new folder anywhere on the server filesystem.
  • Restarting Mirth Connect is not required. Instead, in the Administrator navigate to the Settings -> Resources tab. 

• • Create a new Directory resource if needed. If you're just using the custom-lib folder, and the default resource is pointing to custom-lib (it will by default), then you only need to hit Reload Resource and the JAR will automatically be picked up. Hit the refresh button if the JAR doesn't show up initially. You should now see it in the Loaded Libraries table at the bottom.

• • Edit the channel you want to use the resource with, go to the Summary tab, and click the Set Libraries button. Make sure the resource is checked for the context you want to use it in. If you're using the default resource, it should already be checked by default.

• • Redeploy the channel if you made any changes to it.

Now that you've included the JAR, send a message through the channel. You should see something like this in the server log:

[2015-05-12 10:45:54,666]  INFO  (js-connector:?): Hello, World!

If you are getting errors such as: TypeError: JavaPackage com.mycompany.utils.myclass is not a function, it is org.mozilla.javascript.NativeJavaPackage it may help to interpret it as "I can't find the class you're talking about." This rather misleading error can occur if the specified package doesn't exist or can't be found, e.g. you specify a completely bunk package name, have a typo, or if the package is invalid in some fashion. In my case I had unwittingly put my java source into my jar file instead of the compiled class, and got this error. Posted by rfeague at Jan 25, 2010 14:52

Thank you, Jacob. The post is very helpful and it's exactly what I'm looking for. I'm using Mirth v2.1.1.5490, Windows7 and try to follow the instruction that you provided. Given that I have my jar exported and put in mirth/custom-lib. In the channel I made the destination connector to JS Writer and did the same as you did. But when I deploy and receive HL7 message, I didn't see the println in the logs/mirth file. I have a feeling that the script does executed correctly, since I tried to mispelled the method repeat it gave me error stating that repeate is not be found in the jar. Can you explain this behavior to me? N Posted by nthan at Jul 21, 2011 11:11

Article: How to create and invoke custom Java code in Mirth Connect I have a question.  I am kind of a Mirth newbie, and I am puzzled as to the details on the last few steps of this page.  You kind of go a little fast for me.  What does it mean as far as where I click the mouse etc?  How do I do a Channel Reader, then a Channel Writer and then a JS Transformer?  I can't even find JS Transformer anywhere on the interface.  Is there some menu I need to click? I have a test class done up that sends whatever message is sent to the System.out.println and I ran the testing channel but I don't see my output anywhere.  Help please!  Thanks. Posted by astrohart at Nov 06, 2012 15:06

Stuck on ... is not a function, it is object.  So based on Roy's comment it seems that it cannot load the  .jar package    Posted by ensing at Jun 04, 2015 12:34

Perfec, Thank. It can be used at the origin of web service .... Posted by alex.quiroz1974 at Mar 16, 2016 11:35

Anyone know how to access custom-lib in a Docker Container? Posted by hedidin at Jul 28, 2018 10:55

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