Hello all!

Can anybody advise about a rather long-standing problem I have had. I had a module that used to load OK back at around DNN 5.0, but since then I have never managed to be able to use it through subsequent upgrades. The symptoms are unfortunately very simple and stubborn, I just get the following error when I try to add the module to a page:

DotNetNuke.Services.Exceptions.ModuleLoadException: Object reference not set to an instance of an object. ---> System.NullReferenceException: Object reference not set to an instance of an object. at DotNetNuke.Entities.Modules.ModuleController.AddModule(ModuleInfo module) at DotNetNuke.UI.ControlPanels.ControlPanelBase.AddNewModule(String title, Int32 desktopModuleId, String paneName, Int32 position, ViewPermissionType permissionType, String align) at DotNetNuke.UI.ControlPanels.IconBar.AddModule_Click(Object sender, EventArgs e)

In an effort to troubleshoot the issue, I have now stripped back the module to simply a couple of blank ASCX controls with hardly any code behind in use. But the problem remains the same, which has started to make me think that perhaps there is some slight corruption of the database, with some sort of module definition problem. I have the module set up as a DLL compiled module, but the debugging for the module does not even get invoked, as if the DNN add module process is failing before it gets to any module code - I do not even think this would be running when the module is first added, and as I say, the module hasn't really got any code behind left at the moment, apart from a skeletal namespace and class definition and a few namespace imports.

Given that the problem occurs even if I let DNN create the module package and definitions itself, would you agree that this might sound like a database issue that DNN only notices when it tries to add a module? If so, what sort of thing should I be looking for? As you can tell I am now thoroughly stuck about how to proceed with this problem, I've run out of ideas. Can anybody help?

Regards

Are you able to install and add to a page other "core" modules. If the addition of other modules to a page are also failing with the same error then the issue is not specific to your custom module.

In addition to checking the above, make sure that your module's controls inherit from DotNetNuke.Entities.Modules.PortalModuleBase in their code files or code behinds.

---

Bill, WESNet Designs
Team Lead - DotNetNuke Gallery Module Project (Not Actively Being Developed)
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I still can't get this module to add to a page. Would somebody be so kind as to cast a glance over the module entry in my manifest. I can't see any obvious mistake myself, but just in case I am missing something obvious, here it is (the [..] names are changed to protect the guilty) ... 

       <component type="Module">
          <desktopModule>
            <moduleName>[MyOrg].[MyModuleName]</moduleName>
            <foldername>[MyDevFolder]/[MyModuleFolder]</foldername>
            <businessControllerClass />
            <supportedFeatures />
            <moduleDefinitions>
              <moduleDefinition>
                <friendlyName>My Friendly Name</friendlyName>
                <defaultCacheTime>0</defaultCacheTime>
                <moduleControls>
                  <moduleControl>
                    <controlKey>MyControlKeyView</controlKey>
                    <controlSrc>DesktopModules/[MyDevFolder]/[MyModuleFolder]/MyViewControl.ascx</controlSrc>
                    <supportsPartialRendering>False</supportsPartialRendering>
                    <controlTitle>My View Control</controlTitle>
                    <controlType>View</controlType>
                    <iconFile />
                    <helpUrl />
                    <supportsPopUps>False</supportsPopUps>
                    <viewOrder>0</viewOrder>
                  </moduleControl>
                  <moduleControl>
                    <controlKey>MyControlKeySettings</controlKey>
                    <controlSrc>DesktopModules/[MyDevFolder]/[MyModuleFolder]/MySettingsControl.ascx</controlSrc>
                    <supportsPartialRendering>False</supportsPartialRendering>
                    <controlTitle>My Settings Control</controlTitle>
                    <controlType>Edit</controlType>
                    <iconFile />
                    <helpUrl />
                    <supportsPopUps>False</supportsPopUps>
                    <viewOrder>0</viewOrder>
                  </moduleControl>
                </moduleControls>
              </moduleDefinition>
            </moduleDefinitions>
          </desktopModule>
        </component>

Thanks if you can shed some light on my problem.

Regards