Object reference not set to an instance of a object

donnyyeo · July 3, 2015, 9:26am

Dear Support,

Several Windows players had this dialog box appearing.
Happens to both Windows players version 1.7.3 and 1.7.4

Restarting the box sometime do not stop this dialog box from re-appearing.
The layout will not be correctly displayed,
One region might not load.

Please guide on how to troubleshoot this issue.

How to get the error log.

Regards,
Donny

Below is the Details on the dialog box:

See the end of this message for details on invoking 
just-in-time (JIT) debugging instead of this dialog box.

************** Exception Text **************
System.NullReferenceException: Object reference not set to an instance of an object.
   at XiboClient.Media.SignalElapsedEvent() in c:\Users\dan\www\xibo-dotnetclient\Media\Media.cs:line 232
   at XiboClient.Video.timer_Tick(Object sender, EventArgs e) in c:\Users\dan\www\xibo-dotnetclient\Media\Video.cs:line 142
   at System.Windows.Forms.Timer.OnTick(EventArgs e)
   at System.Windows.Forms.Timer.TimerNativeWindow.WndProc(Message& m)
   at System.Windows.Forms.NativeWindow.Callback(IntPtr hWnd, Int32 msg, IntPtr wparam, IntPtr lparam)


************** Loaded Assemblies **************
mscorlib
    Assembly Version: 4.0.0.0
    Win32 Version: 4.0.30319.34014 built by: FX45W81RTMGDR
    CodeBase: file:///C:/Windows/Microsoft.NET/Framework/v4.0.30319/mscorlib.dll
----------------------------------------
XiboClient
    Assembly Version: 2.0.0.0
    Win32 Version: 2.0.0.0
    CodeBase: file:///C:/Program%20Files/Xibo%20Player/XiboClient.exe
----------------------------------------
System
    Assembly Version: 4.0.0.0
    Win32 Version: 4.0.30319.34003 built by: FX45W81RTMGDR
    CodeBase: file:///C:/WINDOWS/Microsoft.Net/assembly/GAC_MSIL/System/v4.0_4.0.0.0__b77a5c561934e089/System.dll
----------------------------------------
System.Windows.Forms
    Assembly Version: 4.0.0.0
    Win32 Version: 4.0.30319.33440 built by: FX45W81RTMREL
    CodeBase: file:///C:/WINDOWS/Microsoft.Net/assembly/GAC_MSIL/System.Windows.Forms/v4.0_4.0.0.0__b77a5c561934e089/System.Windows.Forms.dll
----------------------------------------
System.Drawing
    Assembly Version: 4.0.0.0
    Win32 Version: 4.0.30319.33440 built by: FX45W81RTMREL
    CodeBase: file:///C:/WINDOWS/Microsoft.Net/assembly/GAC_MSIL/System.Drawing/v4.0_4.0.0.0__b03f5f7f11d50a3a/System.Drawing.dll
----------------------------------------
Xilium.CefGlue
    Assembly Version: 3.0.0.0
    Win32 Version: 3.0.0.0
    CodeBase: file:///C:/Program%20Files/Xibo%20Player/Xilium.CefGlue.DLL
----------------------------------------
System.Xml
    Assembly Version: 4.0.0.0
    Win32 Version: 4.0.30319.33440 built by: FX45W81RTMREL
    CodeBase: file:///C:/WINDOWS/Microsoft.Net/assembly/GAC_MSIL/System.Xml/v4.0_4.0.0.0__b77a5c561934e089/System.Xml.dll
----------------------------------------
System.Configuration
    Assembly Version: 4.0.0.0
    Win32 Version: 4.0.30319.33440 built by: FX45W81RTMREL
    CodeBase: file:///C:/WINDOWS/Microsoft.Net/assembly/GAC_MSIL/System.Configuration/v4.0_4.0.0.0__b03f5f7f11d50a3a/System.Configuration.dll
----------------------------------------
XiboClient.XmlSerializers
    Assembly Version: 2.0.0.0
    Win32 Version: 2.0.0.0
    CodeBase: file:///C:/Program%20Files/Xibo%20Player/XiboClient.XmlSerializers.DLL
----------------------------------------
System.Web.Services
    Assembly Version: 4.0.0.0
    Win32 Version: 4.0.30319.33440 built by: FX45W81RTMREL
    CodeBase: file:///C:/WINDOWS/Microsoft.Net/assembly/GAC_MSIL/System.Web.Services/v4.0_4.0.0.0__b03f5f7f11d50a3a/System.Web.Services.dll
----------------------------------------
Microsoft.GeneratedCode
    Assembly Version: 1.0.0.0
    Win32 Version: 4.0.30319.33440 built by: FX45W81RTMREL
    CodeBase: file:///C:/WINDOWS/Microsoft.Net/assembly/GAC_MSIL/System.Xml/v4.0_4.0.0.0__b77a5c561934e089/System.Xml.dll
----------------------------------------
System.Management
    Assembly Version: 4.0.0.0
    Win32 Version: 4.0.30319.33440 built by: FX45W81RTMREL
    CodeBase: file:///C:/WINDOWS/Microsoft.Net/assembly/GAC_MSIL/System.Management/v4.0_4.0.0.0__b03f5f7f11d50a3a/System.Management.dll
----------------------------------------
Microsoft.GeneratedCode
    Assembly Version: 1.0.0.0
    Win32 Version: 4.0.30319.33440 built by: FX45W81RTMREL
    CodeBase: file:///C:/WINDOWS/Microsoft.Net/assembly/GAC_MSIL/System.Xml/v4.0_4.0.0.0__b77a5c561934e089/System.Xml.dll
----------------------------------------
Microsoft.GeneratedCode
    Assembly Version: 1.0.0.0
    Win32 Version: 4.0.30319.33440 built by: FX45W81RTMREL
    CodeBase: file:///C:/WINDOWS/Microsoft.Net/assembly/GAC_MSIL/System.Xml/v4.0_4.0.0.0__b77a5c561934e089/System.Xml.dll
----------------------------------------
AxInterop.WMPLib
    Assembly Version: 1.0.0.0
    Win32 Version: 1.0.0.0
    CodeBase: file:///C:/Program%20Files/Xibo%20Player/AxInterop.WMPLib.DLL
----------------------------------------
Interop.WMPLib
    Assembly Version: 1.0.0.0
    Win32 Version: 1.0.0.0
    CodeBase: file:///C:/Program%20Files/Xibo%20Player/Interop.WMPLib.DLL
----------------------------------------

************** JIT Debugging **************
To enable just-in-time (JIT) debugging, the .config file for this
application or computer (machine.config) must have the
jitDebugging value set in the system.windows.forms section.
The application must also be compiled with debugging
enabled.

For example:

<configuration>
    <system.windows.forms jitDebugging="true" />
</configuration>

When JIT debugging is enabled, any unhandled exception
will be sent to the JIT debugger registered on the computer
rather than be handled by this dialog box.

Peter · July 3, 2015, 9:56am

We are sorry that you are having this problems.
Could you tell me when this started?
If nothing was done to(and on) the devices, then it’s a bit weird for this type of errors to just appear out of nowhere.
I assume you tried to reinstall xibo and .net framework etc.?

donnyyeo · July 3, 2015, 10:03am

Please teach me how to enable error log of the player and CMS.

I will then submit the error log and step on how to replicate the error.

I did try reinstall the Xibo WIndows Player and deleted the XIbo Library on the player. The error still appearing.

Fyi, I am using Windows 8.1

Peter · July 3, 2015, 10:18am

You may try to reinstall/repair .net things too.
Windows 8 shouldn’t cause problems.

Regarding logs, I guess CMS logs won’t be useful in this case but for the future reference:
Go to displays page ->edit you disply->go to advanced tab->set Auditing to yes.
Go to Report Fault page -> click 'Turn on debugging’
Recreate issue and then alos on Report Fault page click “Collect and save data”

Please remember to redact any sensitive data from logs before posting them(or link to them) on publicly open forums like this one.

What could be somewhat useful is windows application log from Windows event viewer, more on that via pm stay tuned.

donnyyeo · July 21, 2015, 3:45am

Update: Windows 7 Pro 32-bit also experiencing the same issue.

Same .NET Framework error.

Note: This error only appears occasionally. I only managed to see it today, after first reporting this in this thread.

When this .NET error appear, the layout looks like this. The center region do not load the video.

If click on Continue, the Layout will continue to load and play all media (including video) with no issue.

It there any way to stop this NET error from appearing?

There is nothing useful in the Windows event viewer. Check in Windows Application log and Windows System log.

The debug message shows:

 ************** Exception Text **************
System.NullReferenceException: Object reference not set to an instance of an object.
at XiboClient.Media.SignalElapsedEvent() in c:\Users\dan\www\xibo-dotnetclient\Media\Media.cs:line 232
at XiboClient.Video.timer_Tick(Object sender, EventArgs e) in c:\Users\dan\www\xibo-dotnetclient\Media\Video.cs:line 142
at System.Windows.Forms.Timer.OnTick(EventArgs e)
at System.Windows.Forms.Timer.TimerNativeWindow.WndProc(Message& m)
at System.Windows.Forms.NativeWindow.Callback(IntPtr hWnd, Int32 msg, IntPtr wparam, IntPtr lparam)

Same Debug Exception as the first case.

dan · September 16, 2015, 3:38pm

We’ve had a few other people reporting this issue over the last few weeks and would be keen to do some more investigation. Would it be possible to get an export of a layout that exhibits the issue?

My working theory is that it is something to do with layouts that have video with a non-0 duration.

donnyyeo · September 26, 2015, 3:54pm

The POC2 layout can be download from here.

Yes, there is a video which have a duration set on 10 seconds.

Note: The issue would not occur right away. Sometimes once or twice in a week.

djgait · October 1, 2015, 8:14am

I also have this issue. It happens a lot when i use CEF. Integrating datasets also causes crashes under CEF. Most of the time directly after application start. Sometimes when screen resolution changes (if a monitor is turned off bij timer, pc computer sometimes falls back to standard display settings while Xibo is running) the content is messed up and an error is thrown.

jongag1 · October 5, 2015, 7:16am

Same here, using CEF. Thought everything keeps running behind the error popup and the content is looking good.
In our case we’re not using video in the presentation. Running the client on windows10.

dan · October 23, 2015, 11:20am

It would be good to discount CEF entirely - i’ve never been happy with its implementation and it only remains for a selected few that required its addition in the first place.

Getting CEF to a point where its stable would be akin to writing a new player application, which is something we’d like to focus on instead.

Dan_Letkeman · February 26, 2016, 9:09pm

Same problem here. We also have layouts with video that have a non-0 duration’s.

Anyone find a workaround for this?

godisplay · March 8, 2016, 2:47pm

Getting that same error on a couple of clients…

1080x1920 portait

one is 1.7.4 (three regions with a video in each)
and one 1.7.6 (also three regions, video at the bottom)

CEF - 1
videos - 0 sec (x2 for loop)

windows 8.1 bing minix

alex · March 8, 2016, 4:44pm

CEF needs to be turned off. It’s not stable and will cause crashes in the Player in most circumstances.

godisplay · March 8, 2016, 4:47pm

CEF are now off after I read the posts… still throws same error though after reboot.

alex · March 8, 2016, 4:48pm

So with CEF off, the Player won’t even start at all without that crash? Or it just crashes randomly once it’s running?

1.7.4 has a file download issue that won’t be helping either so I’d be upgrading that to 1.7.6 as a matter of urgency before trying to debug that further.

godisplay · March 8, 2016, 4:52pm

Well it starts up fine, throws error at random times 0-15 min in.

omg just found a file with a Swedish ‘ä’ in it…“EgetBildspelTVSka¦êrmarna.mp4” lol maybe it was that.

trying again

godisplay · March 8, 2016, 5:01pm

nope didnt help changing filname, have the same error on another client thats running 1.7.6. so i dont know what to do here

alex · March 8, 2016, 5:04pm

Is it specific to a layout? So if you put a simple layout with a single image on it does it do the same thing?

dan · March 9, 2016, 12:12am

As a general note - it might be sufficient to put a null check around this event call

godisplay · March 9, 2016, 8:23am

Alex, testing right now!

Dan, please elaborate…

Thanks for reply