Error opening report designer - Value cannot be null. Parameter name: instance

Error opening report designer - Value cannot be null. Parameter name: instance

Posted by: cliffe on 29 December 2020, 11:42 am EST

• 

  cliffe

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  Posted 29 December 2020, 11:42 am EST

  Hello,

  I just upgraded a project from AR v11 to v14. It’s .NET 4.6.2.

  Now, when I open a (code-based section) report, I get the error:
  
  Value cannot be null. Parameter name: instance
  
  Stack Trace is:
  
  at System.ComponentModel.TypeDescriptor.AddAttributes(Object instance, Attribute[] attributes)
  
  at Microsoft.VisualStudio.Design.VSDesignSurface.CreateDesigner(IComponent component, Boolean rootDesigner)
  
  at System.ComponentModel.Design.DesignerHost.AddToContainerPostProcess(IComponent component, String name, IContainer containerToAddTo)
  
  at System.ComponentModel.Design.DesignerHost.PerformAdd(IComponent component, String name)
  
  at System.ComponentModel.Design.DesignerHost.System.ComponentModel.Design.IDesignerHost.CreateComponent(Type componentType, String name)
  
  at System.ComponentModel.Design.Serialization.DesignerSerializationManager.CreateInstance(Type type, ICollection arguments, String name, Boolean addToContainer)
  
  at System.ComponentModel.Design.Serialization.DesignerSerializationManager.System.ComponentModel.Design.Serialization.IDesignerSerializationManager.CreateInstance(Type type, ICollection arguments, String name, Boolean addToContainer)
  
  at System.ComponentModel.Design.Serialization.TypeCodeDomSerializer.Deserialize(IDesignerSerializationManager manager, CodeTypeDeclaration declaration)
  
  at System.ComponentModel.Design.Serialization.CodeDomDesignerLoader.PerformLoad(IDesignerSerializationManager manager)
  
  at Microsoft.VisualStudio.Design.Serialization.CodeDom.VSCodeDomDesignerLoader.PerformLoad(IDesignerSerializationManager serializationManager)
  
  — End of stack trace from previous location where exception was thrown —
  
  at Microsoft.VisualStudio.Design.Serialization.CodeDom.VSCodeDomDesignerLoader.PerformLoad(IDesignerSerializationManager serializationManager)
  
  at Microsoft.VisualStudio.Design.Serialization.CodeDom.VSCodeDomDesignerLoader.DeferredLoadHandler.Microsoft.VisualStudio.TextManager.Interop.IVsTextBufferDataEvents.OnLoadCompleted(Int32 fReload)

  I’ve tried rebuilding the project, deleting the bin & obj folders & running devenv.exe /ResetSettings.

  Any suggestions?

  Thanks,
  
  Cliffe

• 

  mohitg

  

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  Posted 29 December 2020, 2:05 pm EST

  Hello,

  Could you please try with the latest build of AR14:
  
  http://cdn.grapecity.com/ActiveReports/AR14/Hotfixes/ActiveReports-v14.2.20743.msi

  Also, Please try after manually adding a reference to GrapeCity.ActiveReports.Serializer NuGet package.
  
  if the problem still occurs:
  
  Try to reset VS (https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/visualstudio/ide/reference/resetsettings-devenv-exe?view=vs-2019)

  Thanks,
  
  Mohit

• 

  cliffe

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  Posted 30 December 2020, 1:29 am EST

  That did it, thanks!

  There was a Nuget reference to GrapeCity.ActiveReports.Serializer, but it was to a lower version than the rest of the references. I manually updated it to the latest v14 version & it’s working now.

  Thanks again,
  
  Cliffe

• 

  lburns

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  Posted 16 March 2022, 11:36 pm EST

  I have v15.3.1 installed and am getting the same error. I cannot update the serializer to v15.3.1 because the latest v15 activereports.design.win dll is version 15.2.8 (no option to update past this version unless you move to v16) and it gives the following error:
  
  Severity Code Description Project File Line Suppression State
  
  Error Unable to find a version of ‘GrapeCity.ActiveReports.Design.Win’ that is compatible with ‘GrapeCity.ActiveReports.Serializer 15.3.1 constraint: GrapeCity.ActiveReports.Design.Win (>= 15.3.1 && < 16.0.0)’. when I try to update the serializer. How do I get the report designer to function in this instance?

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  akshay.rajput

  

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  Posted 20 March 2022, 7:57 pm EST

  Hi Larry,
  
  In the Nuget Package Manager update the Grapecity.ActiveReports package to v15.3.2 this should update all the ActiveReports packages to the compatible version automatically. After that update the Grapecity.ActiveReports.Design.Win to v15.3.2 as well. Then close the design window and reopen it. This should fix the error.
  
  Let us know if the issue still persists.

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  lburns

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  Posted 20 March 2022, 11:06 pm EST

  Thanks!

  That worked. I can now edit/design my reports again.