SHAPE-ZIP returns empty files when real files do exist

This might not be a bug. It might be a problem with permissions. Environment is Tomcat.

The temporary shapefiles created with WFS SHAPE-ZIP are sometimes returning empty files, but the files do exist in the temp direcory and have data. Here is an excerpt from the emails:

Problem 1 -
> Curiously when I attempt a SHAPE-ZIP query on localhost with a
> filter clause
> on a datasource made up of LineString geometry the return is an
> empty file,
> but in only some cases involving a smaller BBox. (using
> TestWfsPost) Same
> Query with a larger Bbox works fine?
>
> The same Query on an identical online server appears to work
> correctly?
> (both online and remote services localhost) which would seem to
> indicate a
> permission problem with the local server.
>
> I see that the empty result localhost Queries do create a valid
> shape file
> set in the Tomcat temp directory. However, the CREATOR/OWNER has full
> control permissions for the Tomcat temp folder. If permissions were a
> problem the larger Bbox should not work either?
>
> Testing Environment for localhost and online server:
> GeoServer 1.3.2 war, PostGIS 1.1.2, Tomcat 5.5.12, Windows 2003 server
>
> Case 1 - Bbox filter against http://localhost:80/geoserver/wfs: - http://localhost:80/geoserver/wfs:
> returns an
> empty file.
> Notes:
> Identical query except for <gml:coordinates>-125.0,23.0
> -65.0,53.0</gml:coordinates> works fine.
> outputFormat "GML2" results in a valid xml result.
> No warnings or errors in log but an empty zip file.
> Valid shp file set is created in the Tomcat temp subdirectory
> Problem appears related to size of BBox
>
> <?xml version='1.0' encoding='UTF-16' standalone='yes'?>
> <wfs:GetFeature service="WFS" version="1.0.0"
> outputFormat="SHAPE-ZIP"
> xmlns:geo="http://web-maps.com/geo"
> xmlns:wfs="http://www.opengis.net/wfs"
> xmlns:ogc="http://www.opengis.net/ogc"
> xmlns:gml="http://www.opengis.net/gml"
> xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance"
> xsi:schemaLocation="http://www.opengis.net/wfs
> http://schemas.opengis.net/wfs/1.0.0/WFS- - http://schemas.opengis.net/wfs/1.0.0/WFS-
> basic.xsd">
> <wfs:Query typeName="geo:interstate">
> <ogc:Filter>
> <ogc:BBOX>
> <ogcropertyName>the_geom</ogcropertyName>
> <gml:Box srsName="http://www.opengis.net/gml/srs/
> epsg.xml#4269">
> <gml:coordinates>-91.53543472290039,37.17322826385498
> -89.1732292175293,39.53543281555176</gml:coordinates>
> </gml:Box>
> </ogc:BBOX>
> </ogc:Filter>
> </wfs:Query>
> </wfs:GetFeature>
>
>
>
> Problem 2 -
>
> Switching to a Query of a Polygon datasource results in a
> "java.io.IOException: Unable to write : java.math.BigDecimal" for
> Shape
> Dbase Header
>
> - localhost and online - polygon data
> <?xml version='1.0' encoding='UTF-16' standalone='yes'?>
> <wfs:GetFeature service="WFS" version="1.0.0"
> outputFormat="SHAPE-ZIP"
> xmlns:geo="http://web-maps.com/geo"
> xmlns:wfs="http://www.opengis.net/wfs"
> xmlns:ogc="http://www.opengis.net/ogc"
> xmlns:gml="http://www.opengis.net/gml"
> xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance"
> xsi:schemaLocation="http://www.opengis.net/wfs
> http://schemas.opengis.net/wfs/1.0.0/WFS- - http://schemas.opengis.net/wfs/1.0.0/WFS-
> basic.xsd">
> <wfs:Query typeName="geo:state">
> <ogc:Filter>
> <ogc:BBOX>
> <ogcropertyName>the_geom</ogcropertyName>
> <gml:Box srsName="http://www.opengis.net/gml/srs/
> epsg.xml#4269">
> <gml:coordinates>-91.53543472290039,37.17322826385498
> -89.1732292175293,39.53543281555176</gml:coordinates>
> </gml:Box>
> </ogc:BBOX>
> </ogc:Filter>
> </wfs:Query>
> </wfs:GetFeature>
>
> Gives this exception:
>
> <?xml version="1.0" ?>
> <ServiceExceptionReport
> version="1.2.0"
> xmlns="http://www.opengis.net/ogc"
> xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance"
> xsi:schemaLocation="http://www.opengis.net/ogc
> http://localhost:80/geoserver/schemas//wfs/1.0.0/OGC-exception.xsd - http://localhost:80/geoserver/schemas//wfs/1.0.0/OGC-exception.xsd">
> <ServiceException>
> java.io.IOException: Unable to write : java.math.BigDecimal
> </ServiceException>
> </ServiceExceptionReport>
>
> Log file entry:
>
> 45645285 org.vfny.geoserver.servlets.AbstractService -
> java.io.IOException: Unable to write : java.math.BigDecimal
> at
> org.geotools.data.shapefile.ShapefileDataStore.createDbaseHeader
> (ShapefileDa
> taStore.java:1046)
> at
> org.geotools.data.shapefile.ShapefileDataStore.createSchema
> (ShapefileDataSto
> re.java:769)
> at
> org.vfny.geoserver.wfs.responses.ShapeFeatureResponseDelegate.writeOut
> (Shape
> FeatureResponseDelegate.java:301)
> at
> .
> .
> .