Character builder problem when viewing character sheet - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

Character builder problem when viewing character sheet

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
whopperdown
Dec 16, 2009 1:49:08 Builder itself works fine until i try to view character sheet. error message pops up and says "Object Reference not set to an instance of an object."

Program then closes.
#2
dm_raven
Dec 16, 2009 12:52:20 Hey Whooperdown,

Sorry you're having problems, have you tried a re-install of character builder?
#3
virtualdragon
Dec 18, 2009 23:07:07 My wife has the exact same problem it seems. But it only happens with her character and none of the ones I have saved, so I'm doubting an entire reinstall would fix it.
#4
virtualdragon
Dec 18, 2009 23:32:43 I seem to have found the fix to this (at least if your problem is anything like the problem I was having with my wife's character).

I just opened up the saved character file (after making a backup) in Notepad (although any simple text editor should work). Then I found the section starting with:

      < textstring name="LAYOUT_DATAPowerCard" >

and ending with the next

      < /textstring >

tag you find after that (knowing a bit about HTML or XML editing helps a lot with this).

That appears to be the section related to power cards on your character sheet. Most likely something weird happened between versions since I know that wasn't changed in my case between updates. After removing that section and saving the file, the character sheet should load up fine (although without any customizations you did to power cards, but at least it works).   At least this worked for me. I imagine if you were still having trouble you could also remove the

      < textstring name="LAYOUT_DATA" >
      < /textstring >

section (and of course any code between those tags). I hope this helps.

Note: the strings you will be looking for don't actually have spaces between the <> and the text as shown above, I had to include those to avoid the text from being cut. The editor they use for these forums doesn't seem to really support including code references.
#5
VaultDweller
Dec 19, 2009 10:07:02 I'm seeing the exact same problem with one character in my group. His character worked (and still works) fine on PCs with the November update installed. However, after installing the December update on any computer, that error appears when attempting to view the character sheet.
#6
dm_raven
Dec 22, 2009 17:51:42 Hey guys, thanks for the posts. I'm looking into this issue and hopefully I can get back to you soon.

Raven
#7
dm_raven
Dec 23, 2009 11:42:33 Hey Virtual, do you still have the character file for the busted character? Do any of you have a busted character getting this crash?
#8
virtualdragon
Dec 23, 2009 12:48:10
Hey Virtual, do you still have the character file for the busted character? Do any of you have a busted character getting this crash?

I think I still have a copy of a busted character file on my computer at home. I can try to send it to you later today.

#9
dm_raven
Dec 23, 2009 12:53:10 Alright, let me know if you're able.
#10
VaultDweller
Dec 24, 2009 6:55:39 I still have a file that crashes on character sheet view, just let me know where you need it sent.
#11
whopperdown
Dec 29, 2009 23:37:47 sorry i never reposted on the forum, was away for the holidays, indeed this problem waslimited to one character and remaking it solved the problem. i still have the character file as well if you need .
#12
VaultDweller
Jan 05, 2010 10:59:12 Is there any kind of update on this? This is a very serious bug. Until it gets fixed I can never update all my machines to the latest version, as I will always need to keep the November version installed to view the problem character sheets.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 whopperdown Dec 16, 2009 1:49:08	Builder itself works fine until i try to view character sheet. error message pops up and says "Object Reference not set to an instance of an object." Program then closes.
#2 dm_raven Dec 16, 2009 12:52:20	Hey Whooperdown, Sorry you're having problems, have you tried a re-install of character builder?
#3 virtualdragon Dec 18, 2009 23:07:07	My wife has the exact same problem it seems. But it only happens with her character and none of the ones I have saved, so I'm doubting an entire reinstall would fix it.
#4 virtualdragon Dec 18, 2009 23:32:43	I seem to have found the fix to this (at least if your problem is anything like the problem I was having with my wife's character). I just opened up the saved character file (after making a backup) in Notepad (although any simple text editor should work). Then I found the section starting with: < textstring name="LAYOUT_DATAPowerCard" > and ending with the next < /textstring > tag you find after that (knowing a bit about HTML or XML editing helps a lot with this). That appears to be the section related to power cards on your character sheet. Most likely something weird happened between versions since I know that wasn't changed in my case between updates. After removing that section and saving the file, the character sheet should load up fine (although without any customizations you did to power cards, but at least it works). At least this worked for me. I imagine if you were still having trouble you could also remove the < textstring name="LAYOUT_DATA" > < /textstring > section (and of course any code between those tags). I hope this helps. Note: the strings you will be looking for don't actually have spaces between the <> and the text as shown above, I had to include those to avoid the text from being cut. The editor they use for these forums doesn't seem to really support including code references.
#5 VaultDweller Dec 19, 2009 10:07:02	I'm seeing the exact same problem with one character in my group. His character worked (and still works) fine on PCs with the November update installed. However, after installing the December update on any computer, that error appears when attempting to view the character sheet.
#6 dm_raven Dec 22, 2009 17:51:42	Hey guys, thanks for the posts. I'm looking into this issue and hopefully I can get back to you soon. Raven
#7 dm_raven Dec 23, 2009 11:42:33	Hey Virtual, do you still have the character file for the busted character? Do any of you have a busted character getting this crash?
#8 virtualdragon Dec 23, 2009 12:48:10	Hey Virtual, do you still have the character file for the busted character? Do any of you have a busted character getting this crash? I think I still have a copy of a busted character file on my computer at home. I can try to send it to you later today.
#9 dm_raven Dec 23, 2009 12:53:10	Alright, let me know if you're able.
#10 VaultDweller Dec 24, 2009 6:55:39	I still have a file that crashes on character sheet view, just let me know where you need it sent.
#11 whopperdown Dec 29, 2009 23:37:47	sorry i never reposted on the forum, was away for the holidays, indeed this problem waslimited to one character and remaking it solved the problem. i still have the character file as well if you need .
#12 VaultDweller Jan 05, 2010 10:59:12	Is there any kind of update on this? This is a very serious bug. Until it gets fixed I can never update all my machines to the latest version, as I will always need to keep the November version installed to view the problem character sheets.