"Value cannot be null. Parameter name: instance" error in VS 2013 form designer

"Value cannot be null. Parameter name: instance" error in VS 2013 form designer

Posted by: sturgus on 14 September 2017, 6:46 pm EST

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  sturgus

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  Posted 14 September 2017, 6:46 pm EST

  [activereports_archive]Hi,

  I’m getting a “Value cannot be null. Parameter name:instance” error when trying to load any of my page reports in VS 2013 after updating to AR 8.1.

  There’s no “go to error” or "load anyway options. I have the following Call Stack:

  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)
  
  at Microsoft.VisualStudio.Design.Serialization.CodeDom.VSCodeDomDesignerLoader.DeferredLoadHandler.Microsoft.VisualStudio.TextManager.Interop.IVsTextBufferDataEvents.OnLoadCompleted(Int32 fReload)

  Any tips on debugging this that don’t involve manually remaking all of my page reports?

  Thanks,
  
  ~Ian[/activereports_archive]

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  sankalps

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  Posted 14 September 2017, 6:46 pm EST

  [activereports_archive]Ian,

  Is this a windows or a web project. Generally this error is observed when there are incorrect references present in the project. Since you recently upgraded to the latest build, the probability is higher. I suggest you to try the following steps:

  1. Open the project in Visual Studio.

  2. Close all designer windows.

  3. Delete all the ActiveReports 8 references from the solution explorer.

  4. Re-add the ActiveReports references.

  5. Checked the licenses.licx file that the version specified matches the one installed on your machine. Or you may remove the version and PublikKeyToken part from the entries. Typically the following three entries are required:

  GrapeCity.ActiveReports.Viewer.Win.Viewer, GrapeCity.ActiveReports.Viewer.Win.v8
  
  GrapeCity.ActiveReports.SectionReport, GrapeCity.ActiveReports.v8
  
  GrapeCity.ActiveReports.PageReport, GrapeCity.ActiveReports.v8

  6. Delete the BIN and OBJ folder from your application.

  7. Rebuild your solution and try opening the designer again.

  Let me know if you still face any issues.

  Regards,
  
  Sankalp[/activereports_archive]

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  sturgus

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  Posted 14 September 2017, 6:46 pm EST

  [activereports_archive]The issue has been resolved by step 5. Many thanks![/activereports_archive]

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  dave.southern

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  Posted 18 December 2017, 2:26 pm EST

  I’ve been having the same issue in terms of the error that I get trying to open the designer. The difference is that I have ActiveReports version 6. I tried following the first 4 steps, but that didn’t resolve my issue.