B2S 2.1.2 Throws System NullReferenceException

[ZappoII]

I have (had) a properly working 1.3.1 Version installed in my VPX/Tables dir
I have VPX 10.7.3 final

 

After installing B2S 2.1.2 (Tried multiple times to install it seperately into its own dir, but then it wouldn't even start) to my vpx/tables dir it starts and fires up but immediately afterwards it throws this:

 

 

Sorry for being german locale - Means something like "Unhandled Exception - ObjectReference not set to an Objectinstance"...

 

If I click on "continue" (Weiter), the dialog disappears shortly, then comes back...

 

In between the DOF Toys do fire and stuff but each and every time the PopUp pops back up and raises havoc with the Active Windows and stuf...

 

I have absolutely no Idea how to pin point the cause of this...

 

What might be of interest is:

- I Have a pinscape attached to my cab...

- I use DOF x86 and x64 provided by @mjrgh

 

If I remove all the 2.1.2 Stuff and replace my previous 1.3.1 version, everything is back to normal...

 

Also raised an Issue at https://github.com/vpinball/b2s-backglass/issues/121 (More Details there)...

 

Any Advice welcome...

[Tikimaster]

Mmmh. Can you open the b2s file with a click on it seperately? (on 212)
Another stupid Idea: If you download the actual 10.8 rc4 32 bit, extract it to somewhere and start it seperatly , (does not touch your installation) do you have the same error starting your test-table?
If you backup your old b2ssettings.xml and remove it. ... just to test if the error comes from an misspell or something with the xml..

Edited September 24, 2024 by Tikimaster

[ZappoII]

I can open the b2s file by doubleklicking, nothing special or unpredictable happens besides the backglass image is shown and if I right click on it the dialog comes up...

No Error Messages or stuff...

 

After having a run on my test table (with the described erratic behaviour of the backglass) I found this in the tables sub dir...

 

`B2SServerErrorLog.txt`

 

PluginList.LoadPlugins
PluginList.LoadPlugins Directory: Plugins
PluginList.LoadPlugins.LoadShortcut: x86
PluginList.LoadPlugins END

 

I have no `b2ssettings.xml` but I have a `B2STableSettings.xml` in my tables dir...

 

 

<B2STableSettings>
  <HyperpinXMLFile>Unknown</HyperpinXMLFile>
  <ArePluginsOn>1</ArePluginsOn>
  <DefaultStartMode>2</DefaultStartMode>
  <DisableFuzzyMatching>0</DisableFuzzyMatching>
  <LogPath>C:\Users\Anwender\Desktop</LogPath>
  <IsLampsStateLogOn>0</IsLampsStateLogOn>
  <IsSolenoidsStateLogOn>0</IsSolenoidsStateLogOn>
  <IsGIStringsStateLogOn>0</IsGIStringsStateLogOn>
  <IsLEDsStateLogOn>0</IsLEDsStateLogOn>
  <IsPaintingLogOn>0</IsPaintingLogOn>
  <IsStatisticsBackglassOn>0</IsStatisticsBackglassOn>
  <ShowStartupError>0</ShowStartupError>
  <ScreenshotPath>
  </ScreenshotPath>
  <ScreenshotFileType>0</ScreenshotFileType>
  <t2_l8>
    <HideGrill>0</HideGrill>
    <HideB2SDMD>0</HideB2SDMD>
    <HideB2SBackglass>0</HideB2SBackglass>
    <HideDMD>2</HideDMD>
    <LampsSkipFrames>1</LampsSkipFrames>
    <SolenoidsSkipFrames>3</SolenoidsSkipFrames>
    <GIStringsSkipFrames>3</GIStringsSkipFrames>
    <LEDsSkipFrames>0</LEDsSkipFrames>
    <UsedLEDType>0</UsedLEDType>
    <IsGlowBulbOn>0</IsGlowBulbOn>
    <GlowIndex>-1</GlowIndex>
    <StartAsEXE>1</StartAsEXE>
    <StartBackground>0</StartBackground>
    <FormToFront>0</FormToFront>
    <FormToBack>0</FormToBack>
    <FormNoFocus>0</FormNoFocus>
    <Animations />
  </t2_l8>
  <StartBackground>0</StartBackground>
</B2STableSettings>

 

If I remove the file, no backglass server is started if I run the table from VPX Editor...

 

It's getting late I will check with 10.8 rc4 in another session...

 

Maybe some of this makes any sense to you...???

 

By the way, I also did some things beforehand I was advised to do in the before mentioned github issue...

 

THX and cheers...

Edited September 24, 2024 by ZappoII
No Markup, something else...

[Thalamus]

Seeing something in the line of this issue, though, I have not spent much time on trying to resolve it yet.

For me, it only seems to related at this time to AFM, surprised though, as my setup has the db2s as "image", no scoring. It is however relatively new problem. Will look into it more closely at later date.

[csdf27]

I am also seeing this same problem, and only for Attack from Mars out of about 70 tables tested.  I have tried different B2S for this table but all have this same problem.

Edited October 6, 2024 by csdf27

[ZappoII]

I have further test results...

 

Every B2S Version before 2.1.2 works flawlessly...

 

2.1.1 works perfectly well, if I downgrade to that one...

 

After upgrading to 2.1.2 again the Error is back...

[ZappoII]

On 9/29/2024 at 3:14 AM, Thalamus said:

Seeing something in the line of this issue, though, I have not spent much time on trying to resolve it yet.

For me, it only seems to related at this time to AFM, surprised though, as my setup has the db2s as "image", no scoring. It is however relatively new problem. Will look into it more closely at later date.

 

I would guess (wildly) that anywhere in the If/Then/Else Christmas Trees inside

Private Sub GetThruAllGIStrings(ByVal gistringsData As String)

of

formBackglass.vb

something is (obviously unexpected) not instantiated and that this circumstance is only relevant to the changes made since 2.1.1 which seem to me have mostly been done to some supporting Procedures/Functions related to the handled Objects and Collections there...

But as I would like to point out, I am not that familiar with modern VB or coding for Windows anymore and definitely not familiar enough with the code of the back glass server to dig deeper into that...

[jarr3]

Problem for me is that I do NOT see this problem (I do not think @Tikimaster either), so it is hard for us to find the problem if it cannot be reproduced locally.

I still guess it happens because of a missing update or configuration issue, but of course I would like to find out what it is so that B2S Server can proactively check for this and bring a message... 

 

Does it happen to all tables or only specific tables?

 

1. Can you please post your current B2SSettings.xml (and DmdDevice.ini) as a file attachment

2. Can you please post URL of both Table and B2S Backglass here for a couple of example tables.

3. And please include your screenres.txt and *.res files for the tables above. (zip them up as attachment)

4. Keep your fingers crossed we can reproduce your problem

 

/Jarr3

[csdf27]

Here's the requested files, except I don't have a B2SSettings.xml file, just a B2STableSettings.xml file (which is in the B2SServer folder).  And I don't have a custom .res file for the table. 

The only table (that I have found so far) that I have the crash with is Attack from Mars

I am using B2S 2.1.2

 

  Using the backglass 

 

afmCrash.zip

 

 

Edited November 1, 2024 by csdf27

[jarr3]

On 11/1/2024 at 6:06 AM, csdf27 said:

Here's the requested files, except I don't have a B2SSettings.xml file, just a B2STableSettings.xml file (which is in the B2SServer folder).  And I don't have a custom .res file for the table. 

 

Yes, please add the global B2STableSettings.xml and screenres.txt file from the B2SServer folder, so that we have the full picture

[csdf27]

They're in the zip file

[jarr3]

Thanks for the information! I can now reproduce the issue. I am checking what the problem is.

 

Stay tuned!

[jarr3]

Hello,

 

it should work now with the 2.5.0.319 build. Please confirm and close the ticket.

 

Have fun!

[ZappoII]

Thank you very much for getting into this in the first place.

Would love to check but can find none...

Was looking here https://github.com/vpinball/b2s-backglass/releases am unable to build myself...

[gmoto]

Seems to be this here: B2SServer-2.5.0.319 Build

[jarr3]

6 hours ago, ZappoII said:

Thank you very much for getting into this in the first place.

Would love to check but can find none...

Was looking here https://github.com/vpinball/b2s-backglass/releases am unable to build myself...

Hi @ZappoII

since it isn’t released yet. It will be released once your bug is solved and issue closed plus there might be other issues which I want to solve in the upcoming release.

 

Before a release you can find builds in the actions tab as described above. ☝️ 

 

but you need an github account to access them.

[ZappoII]

Thank you @gmoto and @jarr3 for directing me...

Got myself a download of that specific 319 build but won't be able to check it before Sunday evening...

THX & Cheers

[jarr3]

2 hours ago, ZappoII said:

Thank you @gmoto and @jarr3 for directing me...

Got myself a download of that specific 319 build but won't be able to check it before Sunday evening...

THX & Cheers

There is already a newer build up which included some other fixes, and the Changelog.txt is now up to date so that you can see what is included

[jarr3]

On 11/7/2024 at 3:25 PM, ZappoII said:

Thank you @gmoto and @jarr3 for directing me...

Got myself a download of that specific 319 build but won't be able to check it before Sunday evening...

THX & Cheers

Hi, can you close the issue now?

Edited November 18, 2024 by jarr3

[ZappoII]

Hi there, sorry for being unresponsive...

 

Tested this with Version...

 

B2SServer-2.5.0.320-7842b36-Release-win.zip

 

...the error encountered and discussed in this thread is resolved for me now.

 

I already closed the github issue.

 

Thanks a million and keep up the good work for the Visual Pinball community...

 

Cheers, Zappo II