Freemarker templates and httpUtil errors

Issue

• When upgrading to Liferay DXP 7.4+ from 7.3 or prior versions, we have found some issues regarding httpUtil class. While the class is still available, but its methods are not.
• An example error could be the following one:

  Error executing FreeMarker template
  
  freemarker.core.InvalidReferenceException: The following has evaluated to null or missing:
  
  ==> httpUtil.encodePath  [in template "20155#20197#17104569" at line 19, column 28]

Environment

• Liferay DXP 7.4+

Resolution

• The errors that you have encountered are due to those methods have been moved to the com.liferay.portal.kernel.util.HttpComponentsUtil class in LPS-150185 (7.4 U22).
• Therefore, using the encodePath method as an example, you should update your code to call HttpComponentsUtil.encodePath() instead of HttpUtil.encodePath().

Use in FreeMarker

• Regarding the use of the FreeMarker template, you should be able to use staticUtil to reference the HttpComponentsUtil.
• For example, you can assign a variable named "httpComponentsUtil" as follows:
  

  <#assign httpComponentsUtil = staticUtil["com.liferay.portal.kernel.util.HttpComponentsUtil"] />

  You can then use it to reference the encodePath method later in the template, e.g.:
  

  ${httpComponentsUtil.encodePath(path)}

• However, keep in mind that staticUtil is a restricted variable by default and you'll need to unrestrict it in order to use it in a FreeMarker template.
  This can be accomplished via the following steps:
  1. Navigate to Control Panel > System Settings > Template Engine.
  2. Remove the text box that says "staticUtil" from "Restricted Variables" by pressing the - button.
  3. Save.
  4. Restart Liferay, this is necessary for the configuration change to take effect.

Additional Information

• What are the risks of using the FreeMarker variables utilLocator, objectUtil, and staticUtil