# NilObject problem **URL:** \ **Category:** Windows\ **Created:** [October 20, 2020, 5:44pm UTC](https://forum.xojo.com/t/nilobject-problem/58115 "2020-10-20T17:44:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Carl\_Mize](https://forum.xojo.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/c/dec6dc/32.png) [@Carl\_Mize](https://forum.xojo.com/u/Carl_Mize)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2020, 5:44pm UTC](https://forum.xojo.com/t/nilobject-problem/58115/1 "2020-10-20T17:44:33Z")
i have been having a problem with NilObject. it i want to walk through a run, i put a break at a point and it goes to there and when i take the first step, i get a nilobject. the line it rejected could be int1 = 1 and i have put a dim int1 as integer at the top of the module. also, if i move the break down stream, the program breaks at the new point and does not give me a nilobject before then and then gives me a nillobject when i take the first step onto a line that is ok and it had to execute the line that it broke at above. i have used xojo for years though not for a couple. ---
**Author:** ![Kem\_Tekinay](https://forum.xojo.com/user_avatar/forum.xojo.com/kem_tekinay/32/154_2.png) [@Kem\_Tekinay](https://forum.xojo.com/u/Kem_Tekinay)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2020, 5:45pm UTC](https://forum.xojo.com/t/nilobject-problem/58115/2 "2020-10-20T17:45:34Z")
Can you post the code? (Please use the code tags so it’s formatted for us.) ---
**Author:** ![Carl\_Mize](https://forum.xojo.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/c/dec6dc/32.png) [@Carl\_Mize](https://forum.xojo.com/u/Carl_Mize)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2020, 7:22pm UTC](https://forum.xojo.com/t/nilobject-problem/58115/3 "2020-10-20T19:22:00Z")
i have a rather large program. i call a method to save a file like this Dim Index, Id, int1 As Integer Dim str2 As String Dim f As FolderItem bolSaveTraditionalResults = TRUE bolCalcResidVolume = False f = GetSaveFolderItem(“TEXT”,"") If f = Nil Then Exit Sub TOS = TextOutputStream.Create(f) if bolSaveTraditionalResults = true then TOS.WRITELINE strSaveLeadTraditional i put the break at bolSaveTraditionalResults = TRUE and the variable is defined in the same module. when the program stops at the line, step in results in a nil object. if i move the break further down to the next line. i get to that line, then it gives a nil object thanks. ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_Hare](https://forum.xojo.com/user_avatar/forum.xojo.com/tim_hare/32/176_2.png) [@Tim\_Hare](https://forum.xojo.com/u/Tim_Hare)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2020, 8:09pm UTC](https://forum.xojo.com/t/nilobject-problem/58115/4 "2020-10-20T20:09:05Z")
> [@Carl\_Mize](#): > > step in results in a nil object Interesting. What happens if you Step Over instead? Step In would be unexpected at that point, so maybe there’s an oversight or something going on. ---
**Author:** ![Carl\_Mize](https://forum.xojo.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/c/dec6dc/32.png) [@Carl\_Mize](https://forum.xojo.com/u/Carl_Mize)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2020, 8:38pm UTC](https://forum.xojo.com/t/nilobject-problem/58115/5 "2020-10-20T20:38:02Z")
i have used step in for years and never had this problem. i just tried step over and it gave me anil object also. i sure would like to figure out what is happening so i can get on with the program ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_Parnell](https://forum.xojo.com/user_avatar/forum.xojo.com/tim_parnell/32/161_2.png) [@Tim\_Parnell](https://forum.xojo.com/u/Tim_Parnell)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2020, 8:46pm UTC](https://forum.xojo.com/t/nilobject-problem/58115/6 "2020-10-20T20:46:46Z")
It sounds like you’re getting the `NilObjectException` on the `TOS.WRITELINE`. When the debugger pauses, you see a list of variables and their values. Check that `TOS` isn’t nil. ---
**Author:** ![TimStreater](https://forum.xojo.com/user_avatar/forum.xojo.com/timstreater/32/586_2.png) [@TimStreater](https://forum.xojo.com/u/TimStreater)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2020, 8:50pm UTC](https://forum.xojo.com/t/nilobject-problem/58115/7 "2020-10-20T20:50:07Z")
I take it you’re declaring TOS and checking it’s not Nil? ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_Hare](https://forum.xojo.com/user_avatar/forum.xojo.com/tim_hare/32/176_2.png) [@Tim\_Hare](https://forum.xojo.com/u/Tim_Hare)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2020, 9:53pm UTC](https://forum.xojo.com/t/nilobject-problem/58115/8 "2020-10-20T21:53:05Z")
Have you tried clearing the cache? ---
**Author:** ![Carl\_Mize](https://forum.xojo.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/c/dec6dc/32.png) [@Carl\_Mize](https://forum.xojo.com/u/Carl_Mize)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2020, 10:11pm UTC](https://forum.xojo.com/t/nilobject-problem/58115/9 "2020-10-20T22:11:48Z")
i seldom work in this area of coding, copying it from program to program i am presently at and TOS is declared a global text output stream Dim f As FolderItem bolSaveTraditionalResults = TRUE bolCalcResidVolume = False f = GetSaveFolderItem(“TEXT”,"") If f = Nil Then Exit Sub TOS = TextOutputStream.Create(f) i still get a nil object if i put a break on bolSaveTraditionalResults when i step in how do i clear the cache? ---
**Author:** ![Carl\_Mize](https://forum.xojo.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/c/dec6dc/32.png) [@Carl\_Mize](https://forum.xojo.com/u/Carl_Mize)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2020, 10:13pm UTC](https://forum.xojo.com/t/nilobject-problem/58115/10 "2020-10-20T22:13:52Z")
i have responded to another comment by tim hare with a longer response. to you i will say no and how do i check if it is nil? thx ---
**Author:** ![Greg\_O\_Lone](https://forum.xojo.com/user_avatar/forum.xojo.com/greg_o_lone/32/49_2.png) [@Greg\_O\_Lone](https://forum.xojo.com/u/Greg_O_Lone)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2020, 10:41pm UTC](https://forum.xojo.com/t/nilobject-problem/58115/11 "2020-10-20T22:41:00Z")
Actually, if you’re using 2019r2 or later, you actually need to wrap your code in a try-catch block and “catch” the nilobjectexception. Just checking for nil won’t work any more. ---
**Author:** ![Carl\_Mize](https://forum.xojo.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/c/dec6dc/32.png) [@Carl\_Mize](https://forum.xojo.com/u/Carl_Mize)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2020, 10:49pm UTC](https://forum.xojo.com/t/nilobject-problem/58115/12 "2020-10-20T22:49:09Z")
i am using the latest version. what is a try-catch block? ---
**Author:** ![AlbertoD](https://forum.xojo.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/a/dbc845/32.png) [@AlbertoD](https://forum.xojo.com/u/AlbertoD)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2020, 10:51pm UTC](https://forum.xojo.com/t/nilobject-problem/58115/13 "2020-10-20T22:51:02Z")
Some information: [https://documentation.xojo.com/api/code\_execution/try.html](https://documentation.xojo.com/api/code_execution/try.html) [https://documentation.xojo.com/getting\_started/debugging/exception\_handling.html](https://documentation.xojo.com/getting_started/debugging/exception_handling.html) ---
**Author:** ![Carl\_Mize](https://forum.xojo.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/c/dec6dc/32.png) [@Carl\_Mize](https://forum.xojo.com/u/Carl_Mize)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2020, 12:54am UTC](https://forum.xojo.com/t/nilobject-problem/58115/14 "2020-10-21T00:54:37Z")
thx. the break on nil objection led to errors i could not imagine and were not in the stream of code being viewed. hopefully that will fix my problem. ---
**Author:** ![Jeff\_Tullin](https://forum.xojo.com/user_avatar/forum.xojo.com/jeff_tullin/32/693_2.png) [@Jeff\_Tullin](https://forum.xojo.com/u/Jeff_Tullin)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2020, 5:52am UTC](https://forum.xojo.com/t/nilobject-problem/58115/15 "2020-10-21T05:52:59Z")
> [@Greg\_O\_Lone](#): > > Just checking for nil won’t work any more. Is there some rationale for that? Wouldn’t it make changing code from API1 to API2 risky? ---
**Author:** ![DerkJ](https://forum.xojo.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/d/e495f1/32.png) [@DerkJ](https://forum.xojo.com/u/DerkJ)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2020, 6:29am UTC](https://forum.xojo.com/t/nilobject-problem/58115/16 "2020-10-21T06:29:37Z")
Well that sounds like a major issue then. This should be headlined in the docs on each object… ---
**Author:** ![MarkusR](https://forum.xojo.com/user_avatar/forum.xojo.com/markusr/32/685_2.png) [@MarkusR](https://forum.xojo.com/u/MarkusR)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2020, 6:45am UTC](https://forum.xojo.com/t/nilobject-problem/58115/17 "2020-10-21T06:45:02Z")
> [@Greg\_O\_Lone](#): > > Just checking for nil won’t work any more. please could you explaining a little bit more? we all need/use this =nil universally. it was only about the use of GetSaveFolderItem? ---
**Author:** ![Jeff\_Tullin](https://forum.xojo.com/user_avatar/forum.xojo.com/jeff_tullin/32/693_2.png) [@Jeff\_Tullin](https://forum.xojo.com/u/Jeff_Tullin)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2020, 7:21am UTC](https://forum.xojo.com/t/nilobject-problem/58115/18 "2020-10-21T07:21:14Z")
> [@MarkusR](#): > > we all need/use this =nil universally I have 700 instances in the project I have open alone, taking account of if x \<\> nil then and if x = nil then Not all such cases are followed by code that could _or would need to_ be trapped in a try…catch eg ``` if x = nil then msgbox "you need to do y" end if ``` Try…catch doesn’t help there if we cannot rely on a test for nil ---
**Author:** ![TimStreater](https://forum.xojo.com/user_avatar/forum.xojo.com/timstreater/32/586_2.png) [@TimStreater](https://forum.xojo.com/u/TimStreater)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2020, 9:28am UTC](https://forum.xojo.com/t/nilobject-problem/58115/19 "2020-10-21T09:28:33Z")
> [@Jeff\_Tullin](#): > > Not all such cases are followed by code that could _or would need to_ be trapped in a try…catch Which is one of the irritating things about this exceptions-everywhere approach. I tend to put the IO operation (and nothing else) inside the Try. Or you can do as I did with database methods. I already had my own wrapper around these, so I could encapsulate error logging without cluttering up the main code. So I hid the Try/Catch stuff in there too, and stuck with a single test after each database method call in the main code. Much cleaner. ---
**Author:** ![Greg\_O\_Lone](https://forum.xojo.com/user_avatar/forum.xojo.com/greg_o_lone/32/49_2.png) [@Greg\_O\_Lone](https://forum.xojo.com/u/Greg_O_Lone)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2020, 11:11am UTC](https://forum.xojo.com/t/nilobject-problem/58115/20 "2020-10-21T11:11:10Z")
We were talking about TextOutputStream, but you’re right GetFolderItem probably still returns Nil. That said, the FolderItem API 2 methods all throw exceptions now so you’ll be better off learning how to do that. [Next page](https://forum.xojo.com/t/nilobject-problem/58115.md?page=2)