AAE-50098 Fix unrendered rich text expressions in form submissions (#12169)

lib/core/src/lib/form/components/widgets/core/form-field.model.spec.ts

@@ -36,6 +36,58 @@ describe('FormFieldModel', () => {
         expect(model.json).toBe(json);
     });
 
+    it('should return an isolated authored value snapshot', () => {
+        const authoredValue = { blocks: [{ data: { text: '${field.name}' } }] };
+        const model = new FormFieldModel(new FormModel(), { id: 'richText', type: FormFieldTypes.DISPLAY_RICH_TEXT, value: authoredValue });
+
+        const snapshot = model.authoredValue as typeof authoredValue;
+        snapshot.blocks[0].data.text = 'changed';
+
+        expect((model.authoredValue as typeof authoredValue).blocks[0].data.text).toBe('${field.name}');
+        expect(authoredValue.blocks[0].data.text).toBe('${field.name}');
+    });
+
+    it('should not capture authored values for other field types', () => {
+        const model = new FormFieldModel(new FormModel(), { id: 'json', type: FormFieldTypes.JSON, value: { content: 'value' } });
+
+        expect(model.authoredValue).toBeUndefined();
+    });
+
+    it('should return undefined for authored values that cannot be cloned', () => {
+        const circularValue: { self?: unknown } = {};
+        circularValue.self = circularValue;
+
+        const circularValueModel = new FormFieldModel(new FormModel(), {
+            id: 'circular',
+            type: FormFieldTypes.DISPLAY_RICH_TEXT,
+            value: circularValue
+        });
+        const bigintValueModel = new FormFieldModel(new FormModel(), {
+            id: 'bigint',
+            type: FormFieldTypes.DISPLAY_RICH_TEXT,
+            value: BigInt(1)
+        });
+
+        expect(circularValueModel.authoredValue).toBeUndefined();
+        expect(bigintValueModel.authoredValue).toBeUndefined();
+    });
+
+    it('should preserve authored value when form data overrides the field value', () => {
+        const authoredValue = { blocks: [{ data: { text: '${field.name}' } }] };
+        const savedValue = { blocks: [{ data: { text: 'John' } }] };
+        const form = new FormModel(
+            {
+                fields: [{ id: 'richText', name: 'richText', type: FormFieldTypes.DISPLAY_RICH_TEXT, value: authoredValue }]
+            },
+            { richText: savedValue }
+        );
+        const model = form.getFieldById('richText');
+
+        expect(model.value).toEqual(savedValue);
+        expect(model.authoredValue).toEqual(authoredValue);
+        expect(model.authoredValue).not.toBe(authoredValue);
+    });
+
     it('should setup with json config', () => {
         const json = {
             fieldType: '<fieldType>',

lib/core/src/lib/form/components/widgets/core/form-field.model.ts

@@ -38,12 +38,28 @@ export type FieldOptionType = 'rest' | 'manual' | 'variable';
 export type FieldSelectionType = 'single' | 'multiple';
 export type FieldAlignmentType = 'vertical' | 'horizontal';
 
+const isJsonPrimitive = (value: unknown): value is null | string | number | boolean =>
+    value === null || ['string', 'number', 'boolean'].includes(typeof value);
+
+const cloneJsonCompatibleValue = (value: unknown): unknown => {
+    if (value === undefined || isJsonPrimitive(value)) {
+        return value;
+    }
+
+    try {
+        return JSON.parse(JSON.stringify(value));
+    } catch {
+        return undefined;
+    }
+};
+
 // Maps to FormFieldRepresentation
 export class FormFieldModel extends FormWidgetModel {
     private _value: string;
     private _readOnly: boolean = false;
     private _isValid: boolean = true;
     private _required: boolean = false;
+    private readonly _authoredValue: unknown;
 
     readonly defaultDateFormat: string = 'D-M-YYYY';
     readonly defaultDateTimeFormat: string = 'D-M-YYYY hh:mm A';
@@ -123,6 +139,10 @@ export class FormFieldModel extends FormWidgetModel {
         }
     }
 
+    get authoredValue(): unknown {
+        return cloneJsonCompatibleValue(this._authoredValue);
+    }
+
     get readOnly(): boolean {
         if (this.form?.readOnly) {
             return true;
@@ -183,6 +203,7 @@ export class FormFieldModel extends FormWidgetModel {
 
     constructor(form: any, json?: any, parent?: RepeatableSectionModel) {
         super(form, json);
+        this._authoredValue = json?.type === FormFieldTypes.DISPLAY_RICH_TEXT ? cloneJsonCompatibleValue(json.value) : undefined;
         if (json) {
             this.fieldType = json.fieldType;
             this.id = this.getId(json.id, parent);

lib/process-services-cloud/src/lib/form/components/form-cloud.component.spec.ts

@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@
 
 import { VersionCompatibilityService, AlfrescoApiService } from '@alfresco/adf-content-services';
 import {
+    ADF_DISPLAY_TEXT_SETTINGS,
     ContentLinkModel,
     CoreModule,
     FormFieldModel,
@@ -117,7 +118,8 @@ describe('FormCloudComponent', () => {
                     useValue: {}
                 },
                 { provide: FormRenderingService, useClass: CloudFormRenderingService },
-                { provide: FORM_CLOUD_FIELD_VALIDATORS_TOKEN, useValue: [fakeValidator] }
+                { provide: FORM_CLOUD_FIELD_VALIDATORS_TOKEN, useValue: [fakeValidator] },
+                { provide: ADF_DISPLAY_TEXT_SETTINGS, useValue: { enableExpressionEvaluation: true } }
             ]
         });
         const apiService = TestBed.inject(AlfrescoApiService);
@@ -874,6 +876,39 @@ describe('FormCloudComponent', () => {
         expect(savedForm).toEqual(formModel);
     });
 
+    it('should materialize unrendered rich text expressions when saving a task form', () => {
+        spyOn(formCloudService, 'saveTaskForm').and.returnValue(of(undefined));
+        const formModel = new FormModel({
+            id: '23',
+            taskId: '123-223',
+            fields: [
+                {
+                    id: 'richText',
+                    type: FormFieldTypes.DISPLAY_RICH_TEXT,
+                    value: { blocks: [{ type: 'paragraph', data: { text: 'Hello ${field.name}' } }] }
+                },
+                { id: 'name', type: FormFieldTypes.TEXT, value: 'John' }
+            ]
+        });
+        const originalValues = JSON.parse(JSON.stringify(formModel.values));
+        formComponent.form = formModel;
+        formComponent.taskId = formModel.taskId;
+        formComponent.appName = 'test-app';
+
+        formComponent.saveTaskForm();
+
+        expect(formCloudService.saveTaskForm).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
+            'test-app',
+            formModel.taskId,
+            undefined,
+            formModel.id,
+            jasmine.objectContaining({
+                richText: { blocks: [{ type: 'paragraph', data: { text: 'Hello John' } }] }
+            })
+        );
+        expect(formModel.values).toEqual(originalValues);
+    });
+
     it('should handle error during form save', () => {
         const error = 'Error';
         spyOn(formCloudService, 'saveTaskForm').and.callFake(() => throwError(error));
@@ -981,6 +1016,39 @@ describe('FormCloudComponent', () => {
         expect(completedForm).toBe(formComponent.form);
     });
 
+    it('should materialize unrendered rich text expressions when completing a task form', () => {
+        spyOn(formCloudService, 'completeTaskForm').and.returnValue(of(undefined));
+        const formModel = new FormModel({
+            id: '23',
+            taskId: '123-223',
+            fields: [
+                {
+                    id: 'richText',
+                    type: FormFieldTypes.DISPLAY_RICH_TEXT,
+                    value: { blocks: [{ type: 'paragraph', data: { text: '${field.name}' } }] }
+                },
+                { id: 'name', type: FormFieldTypes.TEXT, value: 'John' }
+            ]
+        });
+        formComponent.form = formModel;
+        formComponent.taskId = formModel.taskId;
+        formComponent.appName = 'test-app';
+
+        formComponent.completeTaskForm('complete');
+
+        expect(formCloudService.completeTaskForm).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
+            'test-app',
+            formModel.taskId,
+            undefined,
+            formModel.id,
+            jasmine.objectContaining({
+                richText: { blocks: [{ type: 'paragraph', data: { text: 'John' } }] }
+            }),
+            'complete',
+            undefined
+        );
+    });
+
     it('should open confirmation dialog on complete task', async () => {
         formComponent.form = new FormModel({
             confirmMessage: {

lib/process-services-cloud/src/lib/form/components/form-cloud.component.ts

@@ -35,9 +35,12 @@ import { filter, map, switchMap } from 'rxjs/operators';
 import {
     ConfirmDialogComponent,
     ContentLinkModel,
+    ADF_DISPLAY_TEXT_SETTINGS,
+    DisplayTextWidgetSettings,
     FormatSpacePipe,
     FormBaseComponent,
     FormEvent,
+    FormExpressionService,
     FormFieldModel,
     FormRulesEvent,
     FormFieldValidator,
@@ -67,6 +70,7 @@ import { TranslatePipe } from '@ngx-translate/core';
 import { MatButtonModule } from '@angular/material/button';
 import { MatCardModule } from '@angular/material/card';
 import { A11yModule } from '@angular/cdk/a11y';
+import { getExpressionEvaluationEnabled$, materializeSubmissionValues } from '../services/form-cloud-submission-values';
 
 interface FormFieldRuntimeState {
     value: any;
@@ -228,6 +232,8 @@ export class FormCloudComponent extends FormBaseComponent implements OnChanges,
     protected changeDetector = inject(ChangeDetectorRef);
 
     private readonly destroyRef = inject(DestroyRef);
+    private readonly expressions = inject(FormExpressionService);
+    private enableExpressionEvaluation = false;
 
     private get currentForm(): FormModel | undefined {
         return super.form;
@@ -252,6 +258,9 @@ export class FormCloudComponent extends FormBaseComponent implements OnChanges,
     constructor() {
         const injectedFieldValidators = inject(FORM_CLOUD_FIELD_VALIDATORS_TOKEN, { optional: true });
         const tabNavEnabledToken = inject(ADF_FORM_TAB_NAV_ENABLED, { optional: true });
+        const displayTextSettings = inject<Observable<DisplayTextWidgetSettings> | DisplayTextWidgetSettings>(ADF_DISPLAY_TEXT_SETTINGS, {
+            optional: true
+        });
 
         super();
         this.loadInjectedFieldValidators(injectedFieldValidators);
@@ -270,6 +279,12 @@ export class FormCloudComponent extends FormBaseComponent implements OnChanges,
             }
         }
 
+        getExpressionEvaluationEnabled$(displayTextSettings)
+            .pipe(takeUntilDestroyed(this.destroyRef))
+            .subscribe((enabled) => {
+                this.enableExpressionEvaluation = enabled;
+            });
+
         this.formService.formContentClicked.pipe(takeUntilDestroyed()).subscribe((content) => {
             if (content instanceof UploadWidgetContentLinkModel) {
                 this.form.setNodeIdValueForViewersLinkedToUploadWidget(content);
@@ -482,7 +497,7 @@ export class FormCloudComponent extends FormBaseComponent implements OnChanges,
     saveTaskForm() {
         if (this.form && this.appName && this.taskId) {
             this.formCloudService
-                .saveTaskForm(this.appName, this.taskId, this.processInstanceId, `${this.form.id}`, this.form.values)
+                .saveTaskForm(this.appName, this.taskId, this.processInstanceId, `${this.form.id}`, this.getSubmissionValues())
                 .pipe(takeUntilDestroyed(this.destroyRef))
                 .subscribe({
                     next: () => {
@@ -523,7 +538,15 @@ export class FormCloudComponent extends FormBaseComponent implements OnChanges,
     private completeForm(outcome?: string, outcomeId?: string) {
         if (this.form && this.appName && this.taskId) {
             this.formCloudService
-                .completeTaskForm(this.appName, this.taskId, this.processInstanceId, `${this.form.id}`, this.form.values, outcome, this.appVersion)
+                .completeTaskForm(
+                    this.appName,
+                    this.taskId,
+                    this.processInstanceId,
+                    `${this.form.id}`,
+                    this.getSubmissionValues(),
+                    outcome,
+                    this.appVersion
+                )
                 .pipe(takeUntilDestroyed(this.destroyRef))
                 .subscribe({
                     next: () => {
@@ -536,6 +559,10 @@ export class FormCloudComponent extends FormBaseComponent implements OnChanges,
         }
     }
 
+    private getSubmissionValues(): FormValues {
+        return materializeSubmissionValues(this.form, { enableExpressionEvaluation: this.enableExpressionEvaluation }, this.expressions);
+    }
+
     parseForm(formCloudRepresentationJSON?: any): FormModel | null {
         if (formCloudRepresentationJSON) {
             const formValues: FormValues = {};

lib/process-services-cloud/src/lib/form/components/widgets/display-rich-text/display-rich-text.widget.spec.ts

@@ -200,6 +200,51 @@ describe('DisplayRichTextWidgetComponent', () => {
             expect(widget.field.value.blocks[0].data.text).toBe('Hello John');
         });
 
+        it('should resolve from authored value after saved data rehydrates the field', () => {
+            const form = new FormModel(
+                {
+                    fields: [
+                        {
+                            id: 'richText1',
+                            name: 'richText1',
+                            type: 'display-rich-text',
+                            value: {
+                                blocks: [{ type: 'paragraph', data: { text: 'Hello ${field.name}' } }]
+                            }
+                        },
+                        { id: 'name', name: 'name', type: 'text', value: 'John' }
+                    ]
+                },
+                {
+                    richText1: {
+                        blocks: [{ type: 'paragraph', data: { text: 'Hello John' } }]
+                    },
+                    name: 'Jane'
+                }
+            );
+
+            widget.field = form.getFieldById('richText1');
+            fixture.detectChanges();
+
+            expect(widget.field.value.blocks[0].data.text).toBe('Hello Jane');
+        });
+
+        it('should preserve the current value when the authored value is unavailable', () => {
+            const form = new FormModel({
+                fields: [{ id: 'richText1', type: 'display-rich-text' }]
+            });
+            const currentValue = {
+                blocks: [{ type: 'paragraph', data: { text: 'Current value' } }]
+            };
+            const field = form.getFieldById('richText1');
+            field.value = currentValue;
+            widget.field = field;
+
+            fixture.detectChanges();
+
+            expect(widget.field.value).toBe(currentValue);
+        });
+
         it('should resolve expressions in multiple blocks', () => {
             const form = new FormModel({
                 fields: [

lib/process-services-cloud/src/lib/form/components/widgets/display-rich-text/display-rich-text.widget.ts

@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@ import { BaseDisplayTextWidgetComponent } from '@alfresco/adf-core';
 import { DomSanitizer } from '@angular/platform-browser';
 import { Subscription } from 'rxjs';
 import { RichTextParserService } from '../../../services/rich-text-parser.service';
+import { resolveRichTextExpressions } from './rich-text-expression-resolver';
 
 export const RICH_TEXT_PARSER_TOKEN = new InjectionToken<RichTextParserService>('RichTextParserService', {
     factory: () => new RichTextParserService()
@@ -66,7 +67,10 @@ export class DisplayRichTextWidgetComponent extends BaseDisplayTextWidgetCompone
 
     protected storeOriginalValue(): void {
         if (this.field) {
-            this.originalFieldValue = JSON.stringify(this.field.value);
+            const authoredValue = this.field.authoredValue;
+            if (authoredValue !== undefined) {
+                this.originalFieldValue = JSON.stringify(authoredValue);
+            }
         }
     }
 
@@ -75,8 +79,10 @@ export class DisplayRichTextWidgetComponent extends BaseDisplayTextWidgetCompone
             return;
         }
 
-        const value = JSON.parse(JSON.stringify(this.field.value));
-        this.applyExpressionsToBlocks(value);
+        const authoredValue = this.field.authoredValue;
+        if (authoredValue !== undefined) {
+            this.applyExpressionsToBlocks(authoredValue);
+        }
     }
 
     protected reevaluateExpressions(): void {
@@ -89,16 +95,7 @@ export class DisplayRichTextWidgetComponent extends BaseDisplayTextWidgetCompone
     }
 
     private applyExpressionsToBlocks(value: any): void {
-        for (const block of value.blocks) {
-            if (block.type === 'list') {
-                for (const item of block.data.items) {
-                    item.content = this.resolveExpressions(item.content, true);
-                }
-            } else {
-                block.data.text = this.resolveExpressions(block.data.text, true);
-            }
-        }
-        this.field.value = value;
+        this.field.value = resolveRichTextExpressions(value, (content) => this.resolveExpressions(content, true));
     }
 
     private parseAndSanitize(): void {

lib/process-services-cloud/src/lib/form/components/widgets/display-rich-text/rich-text-expression-resolver.spec.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,137 @@
+/*!
+ * @license
+ * Copyright © 2005-2026 Hyland Software, Inc. and its affiliates. All rights reserved.
+ *
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * You may obtain a copy of the License at
+ *
+ *     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ *
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
+
+import { resolveRichTextExpressions } from './rich-text-expression-resolver';
+
+describe('resolveRichTextExpressions', () => {
+    const resolve = (value: string) => value.replaceAll('${field.name}', 'John').replaceAll('${variable.status}', 'Active');
+
+    it('should resolve supported rich text content without mutating the input', () => {
+        const value = {
+            time: 1,
+            blocks: [
+                {
+                    type: 'paragraph',
+                    data: {
+                        text: 'Hello ${field.name}',
+                        caption: 'Status: ${variable.status}',
+                        content: [
+                            ['Cell ${field.name}'],
+                            {
+                                label: '${variable.status}'
+                            }
+                        ]
+                    }
+                },
+                {
+                    type: 'list',
+                    data: {
+                        items: [
+                            {
+                                content: '${field.name}',
+                                items: [{ content: '${variable.status}' }]
+                            }
+                        ]
+                    }
+                }
+            ],
+            version: '2.30.0'
+        };
+        const originalValue = JSON.parse(JSON.stringify(value));
+
+        const result = resolveRichTextExpressions(value, resolve);
+
+        expect(result).toEqual({
+            time: 1,
+            blocks: [
+                {
+                    type: 'paragraph',
+                    data: {
+                        text: 'Hello John',
+                        caption: 'Status: Active',
+                        content: [['Cell John'], { label: 'Active' }]
+                    }
+                },
+                {
+                    type: 'list',
+                    data: {
+                        items: [{ content: 'John', items: [{ content: 'Active' }] }]
+                    }
+                }
+            ],
+            version: '2.30.0'
+        });
+        expect(value).toEqual(originalValue);
+        expect(result).not.toBe(value);
+    });
+
+    it('should resolve a caller-owned clone without cloning it again', () => {
+        const value = {
+            blocks: [{ type: 'paragraph', data: { text: 'Hello ${field.name}' } }]
+        };
+
+        const result = resolveRichTextExpressions(value, resolve, { cloneValue: false }) as typeof value;
+
+        expect(result).toBe(value);
+        expect(result.blocks[0].data.text).toBe('Hello John');
+    });
+
+    it('should preserve unknown blocks and properties', () => {
+        const value = {
+            blocks: [
+                {
+                    type: 'custom',
+                    data: {
+                        label: '${field.name}'
+                    },
+                    metadata: '${variable.status}'
+                }
+            ]
+        };
+
+        expect(resolveRichTextExpressions(value, resolve)).toEqual(value);
+    });
+
+    it('should not introduce missing content properties', () => {
+        const result = resolveRichTextExpressions({ blocks: [{ type: 'paragraph', data: {} }] }, resolve) as {
+            blocks: Array<{ data: Record<string, unknown> }>;
+        };
+
+        expect(result.blocks[0].data).toEqual({});
+    });
+
+    it('should return malformed values unchanged', () => {
+        const malformedValues = [null, undefined, 'text', [], {}, { blocks: null }];
+
+        malformedValues.forEach((value) => {
+            expect(resolveRichTextExpressions(value, resolve)).toBe(value);
+        });
+    });
+
+    it('should return non-cloneable values without mutating them', () => {
+        const value: {
+            blocks: Array<{ data: { text: string } }>;
+            self?: unknown;
+        } = {
+            blocks: [{ data: { text: '${field.name}' } }]
+        };
+        value.self = value;
+
+        expect(resolveRichTextExpressions(value, resolve)).toBe(value);
+        expect(value.blocks[0].data.text).toBe('${field.name}');
+    });
+});

lib/process-services-cloud/src/lib/form/components/widgets/display-rich-text/rich-text-expression-resolver.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,111 @@
+/*!
+ * @license
+ * Copyright © 2005-2026 Hyland Software, Inc. and its affiliates. All rights reserved.
+ *
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * You may obtain a copy of the License at
+ *
+ *     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ *
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
+
+type JsonObject = Record<string, unknown>;
+
+export type RichTextExpressionResolver = (value: string) => string;
+
+export interface RichTextExpressionResolverOptions {
+    cloneValue?: boolean;
+}
+
+const isJsonObject = (value: unknown): value is JsonObject => typeof value === 'object' && value !== null && !Array.isArray(value);
+
+const cloneJsonValue = (value: unknown): unknown => {
+    try {
+        return JSON.parse(JSON.stringify(value));
+    } catch {
+        return undefined;
+    }
+};
+
+const resolveNestedContent = (value: unknown, resolve: RichTextExpressionResolver): unknown => {
+    if (typeof value === 'string') {
+        return resolve(value);
+    }
+
+    if (Array.isArray(value)) {
+        return value.map((entry) => resolveNestedContent(entry, resolve));
+    }
+
+    if (isJsonObject(value)) {
+        return Object.fromEntries(Object.entries(value).map(([key, entry]) => [key, resolveNestedContent(entry, resolve)]));
+    }
+
+    return value;
+};
+
+const resolveListItems = (items: unknown, resolve: RichTextExpressionResolver): unknown => {
+    if (!Array.isArray(items)) {
+        return items;
+    }
+
+    return items.map((item) => {
+        if (!isJsonObject(item)) {
+            return item;
+        }
+
+        if (Object.hasOwn(item, 'content')) {
+            item.content = resolveNestedContent(item.content, resolve);
+        }
+
+        if (Object.hasOwn(item, 'items')) {
+            item.items = resolveListItems(item.items, resolve);
+        }
+
+        return item;
+    });
+};
+
+export const resolveRichTextExpressions = (
+    value: unknown,
+    resolve: RichTextExpressionResolver,
+    options: RichTextExpressionResolverOptions = {}
+): unknown => {
+    if (!isJsonObject(value) || !Array.isArray(value.blocks)) {
+        return value;
+    }
+
+    const resolvedValue = options.cloneValue === false ? value : cloneJsonValue(value);
+    if (!isJsonObject(resolvedValue) || !Array.isArray(resolvedValue.blocks)) {
+        return value;
+    }
+
+    resolvedValue.blocks.forEach((block) => {
+        if (!isJsonObject(block) || !isJsonObject(block.data)) {
+            return;
+        }
+
+        if (typeof block.data.text === 'string') {
+            block.data.text = resolve(block.data.text);
+        }
+
+        if (typeof block.data.caption === 'string') {
+            block.data.caption = resolve(block.data.caption);
+        }
+
+        if (Object.hasOwn(block.data, 'content')) {
+            block.data.content = resolveNestedContent(block.data.content, resolve);
+        }
+
+        if (block.type === 'list' && Object.hasOwn(block.data, 'items')) {
+            block.data.items = resolveListItems(block.data.items, resolve);
+        }
+    });
+
+    return resolvedValue;
+};

lib/process-services-cloud/src/lib/form/public-api.ts

@@ -43,5 +43,6 @@ export * from './services/form-cloud.service';
 export * from './services/content-cloud-node-selector.service';
 export * from './services/process-cloud-content.service';
 export * from './services/display-mode.service';
+export * from './services/form-cloud-submission-values';
 
 export * from './form-cloud.module';

lib/process-services-cloud/src/lib/form/services/form-cloud-submission-values.spec.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,185 @@
+/*!
+ * @license
+ * Copyright © 2005-2026 Hyland Software, Inc. and its affiliates. All rights reserved.
+ *
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * You may obtain a copy of the License at
+ *
+ *     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ *
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
+
+import { TestBed } from '@angular/core/testing';
+import { FormExpressionService, FormFieldModel, FormFieldTypes, FormModel } from '@alfresco/adf-core';
+import { firstValueFrom, of } from 'rxjs';
+import { getExpressionEvaluationEnabled$, materializeSubmissionValues } from './form-cloud-submission-values';
+
+describe('getExpressionEvaluationEnabled$', () => {
+    it('should return the configured static value', async () => {
+        const enabled = await firstValueFrom(getExpressionEvaluationEnabled$({ enableExpressionEvaluation: true }));
+
+        expect(enabled).toBe(true);
+    });
+
+    it('should return values emitted by observable settings', async () => {
+        const enabled = await firstValueFrom(getExpressionEvaluationEnabled$(of({ enableExpressionEvaluation: true })));
+
+        expect(enabled).toBe(true);
+    });
+
+    it('should return false when settings are unavailable', async () => {
+        const enabled = await firstValueFrom(getExpressionEvaluationEnabled$(undefined));
+
+        expect(enabled).toBe(false);
+    });
+});
+
+describe('materializeSubmissionValues', () => {
+    let expressions: FormExpressionService;
+
+    beforeEach(() => {
+        TestBed.configureTestingModule({
+            providers: [FormExpressionService]
+        });
+        expressions = TestBed.inject(FormExpressionService);
+    });
+
+    it('should resolve root rich text values from the authored template without mutating the form', () => {
+        const authoredValue = {
+            blocks: [
+                {
+                    type: 'paragraph',
+                    data: {
+                        text: 'Hello ${field.name} - ${variable.status} - ${field.missing} - ${field.unsafe}'
+                    }
+                }
+            ]
+        };
+        const form = new FormModel({
+            fields: [
+                { id: 'richText', name: 'richText', type: FormFieldTypes.DISPLAY_RICH_TEXT, value: authoredValue },
+                { id: 'name', name: 'name', type: FormFieldTypes.TEXT, value: 'John' },
+                { id: 'unsafe', name: 'unsafe', type: FormFieldTypes.TEXT, value: '<b>John</b>' }
+            ],
+            variables: [{ id: 'status', name: 'status', type: 'string', value: 'Active' }]
+        });
+        const richTextField = form.getFieldById('richText');
+        richTextField.value = { blocks: [{ type: 'paragraph', data: { text: 'stale rendered value' } }] };
+        const originalValues = JSON.parse(JSON.stringify(form.values));
+        const originalDefinition = JSON.parse(JSON.stringify(form.json));
+
+        const values = materializeSubmissionValues(form, { enableExpressionEvaluation: true }, expressions);
+
+        expect(values.richText).toEqual({
+            blocks: [
+                {
+                    type: 'paragraph',
+                    data: {
+                        text: 'Hello John - Active -  - &lt;b&gt;John&lt;/b&gt;'
+                    }
+                }
+            ]
+        });
+        expect(form.values).toEqual(originalValues);
+        expect(form.json).toEqual(originalDefinition);
+        expect(richTextField.value).toEqual({ blocks: [{ type: 'paragraph', data: { text: 'stale rendered value' } }] });
+    });
+
+    it('should produce stable values across repeated materialization', () => {
+        const form = new FormModel({
+            fields: [
+                {
+                    id: 'richText',
+                    type: FormFieldTypes.DISPLAY_RICH_TEXT,
+                    value: { blocks: [{ type: 'paragraph', data: { text: '${field.name}' } }] }
+                },
+                { id: 'name', type: FormFieldTypes.TEXT, value: 'John' }
+            ]
+        });
+
+        const firstValues = materializeSubmissionValues(form, { enableExpressionEvaluation: true }, expressions);
+        const secondValues = materializeSubmissionValues(form, { enableExpressionEvaluation: true }, expressions);
+
+        expect(secondValues).toEqual(firstValues);
+    });
+
+    it('should return a shallow clone without resolving expressions when evaluation is disabled', () => {
+        const form = new FormModel({
+            fields: [
+                {
+                    id: 'richText',
+                    type: FormFieldTypes.DISPLAY_RICH_TEXT,
+                    value: { blocks: [{ type: 'paragraph', data: { text: '${field.name}' } }] }
+                },
+                { id: 'name', type: FormFieldTypes.TEXT, value: 'John' }
+            ]
+        });
+
+        const values = materializeSubmissionValues(form, { enableExpressionEvaluation: false }, expressions);
+
+        expect(values).toEqual(form.values);
+        expect(values).not.toBe(form.values);
+        expect(values.richText).toBe(form.values.richText);
+    });
+
+    it('should isolate materialized repeatable section rows', () => {
+        const form = new FormModel();
+        form.values = {
+            section: [
+                { richText: 'saved row one', untouched: 'one' },
+                { richText: 'saved row two', untouched: 'two' }
+            ],
+            name: 'John'
+        };
+        const nameField = new FormFieldModel(form, { id: 'name', type: FormFieldTypes.TEXT, value: 'John' });
+        const firstField = new FormFieldModel(
+            form,
+            {
+                id: 'richText',
+                type: FormFieldTypes.DISPLAY_RICH_TEXT,
+                value: { blocks: [{ type: 'paragraph', data: { text: 'First ${field.name}' } }] }
+            },
+            { id: 'section', uid: 'richText-Row1', fields: {}, rowIndex: 0 }
+        );
+        const secondField = new FormFieldModel(
+            form,
+            {
+                id: 'richText',
+                type: FormFieldTypes.DISPLAY_RICH_TEXT,
+                value: { blocks: [{ type: 'paragraph', data: { text: 'Second ${field.name}' } }] }
+            },
+            { id: 'section', uid: 'richText-Row2', fields: {}, rowIndex: 1 }
+        );
+        form.fieldsCache = [nameField, firstField, secondField];
+        form.values.section = [
+            { richText: 'saved row one', untouched: 'one' },
+            { richText: 'saved row two', untouched: 'two' }
+        ];
+        const originalSection = form.values.section;
+        const originalFirstRow = form.values.section[0];
+        const originalSecondRow = form.values.section[1];
+
+        const values = materializeSubmissionValues(form, { enableExpressionEvaluation: true }, expressions);
+
+        expect(values.section).toEqual([
+            {
+                richText: { blocks: [{ type: 'paragraph', data: { text: 'First John' } }] },
+                untouched: 'one'
+            },
+            {
+                richText: { blocks: [{ type: 'paragraph', data: { text: 'Second John' } }] },
+                untouched: 'two'
+            }
+        ]);
+        expect(values.section).not.toBe(originalSection);
+        expect(values.section[0]).not.toBe(originalFirstRow);
+        expect(values.section[1]).not.toBe(originalSecondRow);
+        expect(form.values.section).toBe(originalSection);
+    });
+});

lib/process-services-cloud/src/lib/form/services/form-cloud-submission-values.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,80 @@
+/*!
+ * @license
+ * Copyright © 2005-2026 Hyland Software, Inc. and its affiliates. All rights reserved.
+ *
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * You may obtain a copy of the License at
+ *
+ *     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ *
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
+
+import { DisplayTextWidgetSettings, FormExpressionService, FormFieldTypes, FormModel, FormValues, ROW_ID_PREFIX } from '@alfresco/adf-core';
+import { isObservable, Observable, of } from 'rxjs';
+import { map } from 'rxjs/operators';
+import { resolveRichTextExpressions } from '../components/widgets/display-rich-text/rich-text-expression-resolver';
+
+type SubmissionRow = Record<string, unknown>;
+
+const isSubmissionRow = (value: unknown): value is SubmissionRow => typeof value === 'object' && value !== null && !Array.isArray(value);
+
+export interface FormCloudSubmissionValuesOptions {
+    enableExpressionEvaluation: boolean;
+}
+
+export const getExpressionEvaluationEnabled$ = (
+    settings: Observable<DisplayTextWidgetSettings> | DisplayTextWidgetSettings | null | undefined
+): Observable<boolean> =>
+    isObservable(settings)
+        ? settings.pipe(map((value) => value?.enableExpressionEvaluation ?? false))
+        : of(settings?.enableExpressionEvaluation ?? false);
+
+export const materializeSubmissionValues = (
+    form: FormModel,
+    options: FormCloudSubmissionValuesOptions,
+    expressions: FormExpressionService
+): FormValues => {
+    const values = { ...form.values };
+
+    if (!options.enableExpressionEvaluation) {
+        return values;
+    }
+
+    for (const field of form.getFormFields([FormFieldTypes.DISPLAY_RICH_TEXT])) {
+        const { authoredValue, parent } = field;
+        if (authoredValue === undefined || parent?.isTemplate) {
+            continue;
+        }
+
+        const materializedValue = resolveRichTextExpressions(authoredValue, (content) => expressions.resolveExpressions(form, content, true), {
+            cloneValue: false
+        });
+
+        if (!parent) {
+            values[field.id] = materializedValue;
+            continue;
+        }
+
+        const sectionValues = values[parent.id];
+        const sectionRow = Array.isArray(sectionValues) ? sectionValues[parent.rowIndex] : undefined;
+        if (!isSubmissionRow(sectionRow)) {
+            continue;
+        }
+
+        const materializedRows = [...sectionValues];
+        const fieldId = field.id.split(ROW_ID_PREFIX)[0];
+        materializedRows[parent.rowIndex] = {
+            ...sectionRow,
+            [fieldId]: materializedValue
+        };
+        values[parent.id] = materializedRows;
+    }
+
+    return values;
+};

lib/process-services-cloud/src/lib/process/start-process/components/start-process-cloud.component.spec.ts

@@ -17,8 +17,8 @@
 
 import { DebugElement, SimpleChange } from '@angular/core';
 import { ComponentFixture, TestBed, fakeAsync, tick } from '@angular/core/testing';
-import { FormModel, FormOutcomeEvent, FormOutcomeModel } from '@alfresco/adf-core';
-import { of, throwError } from 'rxjs';
+import { ADF_DISPLAY_TEXT_SETTINGS, FormFieldTypes, FormModel, FormOutcomeEvent, FormOutcomeModel } from '@alfresco/adf-core';
+import { Subject, of, throwError } from 'rxjs';
 import { StartProcessCloudService } from '../services/start-process-cloud.service';
 import { FormCloudService } from '../../../form/services/form-cloud.service';
 import { FormCloudComponent } from '../../../form/components/form-cloud.component';
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ import { HarnessLoader } from '@angular/cdk/testing';
 import { TestbedHarnessEnvironment } from '@angular/cdk/testing/testbed';
 import { MatAutocompleteHarness } from '@angular/material/autocomplete/testing';
 import { MatButtonHarness } from '@angular/material/button/testing';
-import { FormCloudDisplayMode } from '../../../services/form-fields.interfaces';
+import { FormCloudDisplayMode, FormContent } from '../../../services/form-fields.interfaces';
 import { MatDialogHarness } from '@angular/material/dialog/testing';
 import { MatDialog } from '@angular/material/dialog';
 import { ReactiveFormsModule } from '@angular/forms';
@@ -92,7 +92,10 @@ describe('StartProcessCloudComponent', () => {
     beforeEach(() => {
         TestBed.configureTestingModule({
             imports: [StartProcessCloudComponent, ReactiveFormsModule, StartProcessScreenCloudComponent],
-            providers: [provideScreen(screenId, MockedTaskScreenCloudComponent)]
+            providers: [
+                provideScreen(screenId, MockedTaskScreenCloudComponent),
+                { provide: ADF_DISPLAY_TEXT_SETTINGS, useValue: { enableExpressionEvaluation: true } }
+            ]
         });
         processService = TestBed.inject(StartProcessCloudService);
         formCloudService = TestBed.inject(FormCloudService);
@@ -417,6 +420,54 @@ describe('StartProcessCloudComponent', () => {
             expect(startBtn.disabled).toBe(false);
         });
 
+        it('should keep the start action unavailable while the form definition is loading', async () => {
+            const formDefinition = new Subject<FormContent>();
+            formDefinitionSpy.and.returnValue(formDefinition);
+            typeValueInto('[data-automation-id="adf-inplace-input"]', 'My new process with form');
+            await selectOptionByName('processwithform');
+
+            const startButton = fixture.nativeElement.querySelector('#button-start');
+            expect(startButton).toBeNull();
+            expect(startProcessWithFormSpy).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+        });
+
+        it('should materialize unrendered rich text expressions when starting a process', async () => {
+            formDefinitionSpy.and.returnValue(of(fakeStartForm));
+            component.processDefinitionCurrent = fakeProcessDefinitions[2];
+            component.processPayloadCloud.processDefinitionKey = fakeProcessDefinitions[2].key;
+            component.processInstanceName.setValue('My process');
+            fixture.detectChanges();
+            await fixture.whenStable();
+
+            const form = new FormModel({
+                fields: [
+                    {
+                        id: 'richText',
+                        type: FormFieldTypes.DISPLAY_RICH_TEXT,
+                        value: { blocks: [{ type: 'paragraph', data: { text: 'Hello ${field.name}' } }] }
+                    },
+                    { id: 'name', type: FormFieldTypes.TEXT, value: 'John' }
+                ]
+            });
+            const formElement = fixture.debugElement.query(By.css('adf-cloud-form'));
+            const startButton = fixture.debugElement.query(By.css('#button-start'));
+
+            formElement.triggerEventHandler('formLoaded', form);
+            fixture.detectChanges();
+            startButton.triggerEventHandler('click', null);
+
+            expect(startProcessWithFormSpy).toHaveBeenCalledWith(
+                component.appName,
+                fakeProcessDefinitions[2].formKey,
+                fakeProcessDefinitions[2].version,
+                jasmine.objectContaining({
+                    values: jasmine.objectContaining({
+                        richText: { blocks: [{ type: 'paragraph', data: { text: 'Hello John' } }] }
+                    })
+                })
+            );
+        });
+
         it('should be able to start a process with form full display mode', async () => {
             component.displayModeConfigurations = [
                 {

lib/process-services-cloud/src/lib/process/start-process/components/start-process-cloud.component.ts

@@ -30,10 +30,14 @@ import {
     ViewEncapsulation
 } from '@angular/core';
 import {
+    ADF_DISPLAY_TEXT_SETTINGS,
     ConfirmDialogComponent,
     ContentLinkModel,
+    DisplayTextWidgetSettings,
+    FormExpressionService,
     FormModel,
     FormOutcomeEvent,
+    FormValues,
     IconModule,
     InplaceFormInputComponent,
     LocalizedDatePipe,
@@ -65,6 +69,7 @@ import { FormCustomOutcomesComponent } from '../../../form/components/form-cloud
 import { MatDialog } from '@angular/material/dialog';
 import { StartProcessScreenCloudComponent } from '../../../screen/components/screen-cloud/start-process-event-screen/start-process-screen-cloud.component';
 import { TaskTypeResolverService } from '../../../services/task-type-resolver/task-type-resolver.service';
+import { getExpressionEvaluationEnabled$, materializeSubmissionValues } from '../../../form/services/form-cloud-submission-values';
 
 const MAX_NAME_LENGTH: number = 255;
 const PROCESS_DEFINITION_DEBOUNCE: number = 300;
@@ -211,6 +216,11 @@ export class StartProcessCloudComponent implements OnChanges, OnInit {
     private readonly hasVisibleOutcomesSubject = new BehaviorSubject<boolean>(false);
     private readonly dialog = inject(MatDialog);
     private readonly taskTypeResolverService = inject(TaskTypeResolverService);
+    private readonly expressions = inject(FormExpressionService);
+    private readonly displayTextSettings = inject<Observable<DisplayTextWidgetSettings> | DisplayTextWidgetSettings>(ADF_DISPLAY_TEXT_SETTINGS, {
+        optional: true
+    });
+    private enableExpressionEvaluation = false;
 
     private screenSubmitPayload: unknown;
 
@@ -218,8 +228,12 @@ export class StartProcessCloudComponent implements OnChanges, OnInit {
     showCompleteButton = false;
 
     get isProcessFormValid(): boolean {
-        if (this.hasForm && this.isFormCloudLoaded) {
-            return (this.formCloud ? !Object.keys(this.formCloud.values).length : false) || this.formCloud?.isValid || this.isProcessStarting;
+        if (this.hasForm) {
+            if (!this.isFormCloudLoaded || !this.formCloud) {
+                return false;
+            }
+
+            return !Object.keys(this.formCloud.values).length || this.formCloud.isValid || this.isProcessStarting;
         } else if (this.hasScreen) {
             return true;
         } else {
@@ -268,6 +282,12 @@ export class StartProcessCloudComponent implements OnChanges, OnInit {
     constructor() {
         this.startProcessButtonLabel = this.defaultStartProcessButtonLabel;
         this.cancelButtonLabel = this.defaultCancelProcessButtonLabel;
+
+        getExpressionEvaluationEnabled$(this.displayTextSettings)
+            .pipe(takeUntilDestroyed(this.destroyRef))
+            .subscribe((enabled) => {
+                this.enableExpressionEvaluation = enabled;
+            });
     }
 
     ngOnInit() {
@@ -482,6 +502,14 @@ export class StartProcessCloudComponent implements OnChanges, OnInit {
     }
 
     startProcessWithoutConfirmation() {
+        let submissionValues = this.screenSubmitPayload;
+        if (this.hasForm) {
+            if (!this.formCloud) {
+                return;
+            }
+            submissionValues = this.getFormSubmissionValues(this.formCloud);
+        }
+
         this.isProcessStarting = true;
 
         let action: Observable<ProcessInstanceCloud>;
@@ -495,7 +523,7 @@ export class StartProcessCloudComponent implements OnChanges, OnInit {
                     processName: this.processInstanceName.value,
                     processDefinitionKey: this.processPayloadCloud.processDefinitionKey,
                     variables: this.variables ?? {},
-                    values: this.hasForm ? this.formCloud.values : this.screenSubmitPayload,
+                    values: submissionValues,
                     outcome: this.customOutcomeName
                 })
             );
@@ -524,6 +552,10 @@ export class StartProcessCloudComponent implements OnChanges, OnInit {
         });
     }
 
+    private getFormSubmissionValues(form: FormModel): FormValues {
+        return materializeSubmissionValues(form, { enableExpressionEvaluation: this.enableExpressionEvaluation }, this.expressions);
+    }
+
     startProcess() {
         if (!this.formCloud?.confirmMessage?.show) {
             this.startProcessWithoutConfirmation();