Ranorex Forum

Hello,
I just installed ranorex 3.3.1 on an computer with windows 7 on 64 bit.
I can start the program and even do a recording, but at build an error appears
"
The build was aborted because of an internal failure.
System.NullReferenceException: Object reference not set to an instance of an object.
at Microsoft.Build.BuildEngine.Expander.ExpandPropertiesLeaveTypedAndEscaped(String expression, XmlNode expressionNode)
at Microsoft.Build.BuildEngine.Expander.ExpandAllIntoStringLeaveEscaped(String expression, XmlNode expressionNode)
at Microsoft.Build.BuildEngine.Target.Build(ProjectBuildState buildContext)
at Microsoft.Build.BuildEngine.Project.ExecuteNextActionForProjectContext(ProjectBuildState buildContext, Boolean initialCall)
at Microsoft.Build.BuildEngine.Project.CalculateNextActionForProjectContext(ProjectBuildState buildContext)
at Microsoft.Build.BuildEngine.Project.ContinueBuild(ProjectBuildState buildContext, TaskExecutionContext taskExecutionContext)
at Microsoft.Build.BuildEngine.Project.BuildInternal(BuildRequest buildRequest)
at Microsoft.Build.BuildEngine.Engine.BuildProjectInternalInitial(BuildRequest buildRequest, Project project)
at Microsoft.Build.BuildEngine.Engine.BuildProjectInternal(BuildRequest buildRequest, ProjectBuildState buildContext, TaskExecutionContext taskExecutionContext, Boolean initialCall)
at Microsoft.Build.BuildEngine.Engine.EngineBuildLoop(BuildRequest terminatingBuildRequest)
at Microsoft.Build.BuildEngine.Engine.PostProjectEvaluationRequests(Project project, String[] projectFiles, String[][] targetNames, BuildPropertyGroup[] globalPropertiesPerProject, IDictionary[] targetOutputsPerProject, BuildSettings buildFlags, String[] toolVersions) (MSB4014) - C:\Users\FEH\Documents\Ranorex\RanorexStudio Projects\Samples\KeePassTestSuite\KeePassTestSuite\KeePassTestSuite.csproj:1
"
did I maybe not configure something correctly, or what could be the problem.
Thank you in advance.

Hello,

How did you install Ranorex?
Only if you use the 'setup.exe' or self-extracting zip file 'Ranorex-x.x.x.exe' to start the installation, all required prerequisites are installed.

Please try to uninstall Ranorex and install it again.

Regards,
Bernhard
Ranorex Support Team

Hello,

I had the Ranorex-3.3.1.zip file which I extracted and then i started the "setup.exe" file.
I already tried to uninstal and instal it again.
Should I try instaling a prior version?

Thanks a lot
Best regards
Hans-Georg Fend

Hi,

I am too experiencing the same problem. Ranorex 3.3.1 stopped building my projects after the application crashed. Moreover it doesn't build any new solutions/projects.

In case you may like to know, I've reinstalled the old version (3.2.3) and it builds new projects without issues.

Kind regards,
Michael

Having done a bit of investigation, I found that the issue started after I installed Microsoft Code Contracts.

A work around to get your project running would be to change the target .NET version from 4.0 to 3.5. You will also need to change the ToolVersion in each of the project file (which Ranorex will overwrite each time you save the project).

Kind regards,
Michael

Thank you very much for the help Michael.

Best Regards
Hans-Georg

No problem.

I think the workaround is not a viable long term solution as it will require you to edit the all the project files within the solution. Not to also mention that there could be side effects of doing so.

I'll be interested to see if the Ranorex team could fix this 'issue' in their future version of the Ranorex Studio.

Regards,
Michael

Hello,

It seems to be a bug in msbuild 4.0 when you have installed Code Contracts.
http://connect.microsoft.com/VisualStud ... in-msbuild
It could help if you uninstall .NET 4.0 or Code Contracts.

Another way could be to update .NET to 4.5, but this version is actually a release candidate and could make problems.

Regards,
Bernhard
Ranorex Support Team

Thank you Bernhard.

I'll let you know how it goes with regards to updating/removing .NET 4.0.

Kind regards,
Michael

Hi

I am just new to Ranorex and tried to do the tutorial.
When trying to start the example I get exactly the above message.
I have installed Ranorex with the .exe and I have Code Contracts (which I need) installed.

Is there a workaround to this problem?

Thanks
Stefan

Hello Stefan,

Did you try to update the version of .NET to 4.5?

Regards,
Bernhard

Just installed it. It seems to work now.
So I proceed with the tutorial...
Thanks a lot!

Stefan