Bilss Unhandled Exception when selecting 'Actions Editor'

[Chameleon]

I receive the following exception whenever I click the menu entry for the "Actions Editor" and press "OK" without specifying a License Key (still in Demo mode).




See the end of this message for details on invoking
just-in-time (JIT) debugging instead of this dialog box.

************** Exception Text **************
System.NullReferenceException: Object reference not set to an instance of an object.
at Bliss.ActionEditor.ؖ()
at Bliss.ActionEditor.फ़(Object Ӱ, EventArgs ӱ)
at System.Windows.Forms.Form.OnLoad(EventArgs e)
at System.Windows.Forms.Form.OnCreateControl()
at System.Windows.Forms.Control.CreateControl(Boolean fIgnoreVisible)
at System.Windows.Forms.Control.CreateControl()
at System.Windows.Forms.Control.WmShowWindow(Message& m)
at System.Windows.Forms.Control.WndProc(Message& m)
at System.Windows.Forms.ScrollableControl.WndProc(Message& m)
at System.Windows.Forms.ContainerControl.WndProc(Message& m)
at System.Windows.Forms.Form.WmShowWindow(Message& m)
at System.Windows.Forms.Form.WndProc(Message& m)
at System.Windows.Forms.ControlNativeWindow.OnMessage(Message& m)
at System.Windows.Forms.ControlNativeWindow.WndProc(Message& m)
at System.Windows.Forms.NativeWindow.Callback(IntPtr hWnd, Int32 msg, IntPtr wparam, IntPtr lparam)


************** Loaded Assemblies **************
mscorlib
Assembly Version: 1.0.5000.0
Win32 Version: 1.1.4322.573
CodeBase: file:///c:/windows/microsoft.net/framework/v1.1.4322/mscorlib.dll
----------------------------------------
System
Assembly Version: 1.0.5000.0
Win32 Version: 1.1.4322.573
CodeBase: file:///c:/windows/assembly/gac/system/1.0.5000.0__b77a5c561934e089/system.dll
----------------------------------------
System.Drawing
Assembly Version: 1.0.5000.0
Win32 Version: 1.1.4322.573
CodeBase: file:///c:/windows/assembly/gac/system.drawing/1.0.5000.0__b03f5f7f11d50a3a/system.drawing.dll
----------------------------------------
Bliss
Assembly Version: 1.2.2138.29978
Win32 Version: 1.2
CodeBase: file:///C:/Program%20Files/Games%20for%20Loving/Bliss/Bliss.exe
----------------------------------------
System.Windows.Forms
Assembly Version: 1.0.5000.0
Win32 Version: 1.1.4322.573
CodeBase: file:///c:/windows/assembly/gac/system.windows.forms/1.0.5000.0__b77a5c561934e089/system.windows.forms.dll
----------------------------------------
AxInterop.WMPLib
Assembly Version: 1.0.0.0
Win32 Version: 1.0.0.0
CodeBase: file:///C:/Program%20Files/Games%20for%20Loving/Bliss/AxInterop.WMPLib.DLL
----------------------------------------
Interop.WMPLib
Assembly Version: 1.0.0.0
Win32 Version: 1.0.0.0
CodeBase: file:///C:/Program%20Files/Games%20for%20Loving/Bliss/Interop.WMPLib.DLL
----------------------------------------
Accessibility
Assembly Version: 1.0.5000.0
Win32 Version: 1.1.4322.573
CodeBase: file:///c:/windows/assembly/gac/accessibility/1.0.5000.0__b03f5f7f11d50a3a/accessibility.dll
----------------------------------------
System.Xml
Assembly Version: 1.0.5000.0
Win32 Version: 1.1.4322.573
CodeBase: file:///c:/windows/assembly/gac/system.xml/1.0.5000.0__b77a5c561934e089/system.xml.dll
----------------------------------------

************** JIT Debugging **************
To enable just in time (JIT) debugging, the config file for this
application or machine (machine.config) must have the
jitDebugging value set in the system.windows.forms section.
The application must also be compiled with debugging
enabled.

For example:

<configuration>
<system.windows.forms jitDebugging="true" />
</configuration>

When JIT debugging is enabled, any unhandled exception
will be sent to the JIT debugger registered on the machine
rather than being handled by this dialog.

[Don]

Sorry for the delay in replying. I have been on a family vacation at the Grand Canyon, and I have been unable to get to the net.


The exception that you are seeing would seem to indicate the presence of a corrupt or old format action file.

Could you check in the directory c:\program files\games for loving\Bliss\Actions and tell me what files are found in that directory.

There should be a single file called BasicActions.bdf. If you see other files there, they are probably causing the problems, and should be deleted. If this is not the case, please contact me again, and I will research this further.

Thanks,

Don

[Chameleon]

Only that file exists. All contents of the Bliss folder are listed below.

Why are the Music\Action\*MP3 files duplicated in an identical named child folder??


Microsoft Windows XP [Version 5.1.2600]
(C) Copyright 1985-2001 Microsoft Corp.

C:\Documents and Settings\paul>cd %ProgramFiles%

C:\Program Files>cd "Games for Loving\Bliss"

C:\Program Files\Games for Loving\Bliss>dir /s
Volume in drive C has no label.
Volume Serial Number is E4F8-7D64

Directory of C:\Program Files\Games for Loving\Bliss

12/04/2005 06:54 PM <DIR> .
12/04/2005 06:54 PM <DIR> ..
12/04/2005 06:51 PM <DIR> Actions
09/22/2004 06:46 PM 53,248 AxInterop.WMPLib.dll
10/02/2005 12:56 PM 1,701,322 Bliss Action Editor Manual.pdf
11/01/2005 08:09 PM 864,234 Bliss.chm
11/08/2005 04:40 PM 9,986,048 Bliss.exe
11/01/2005 02:38 PM 601 bliss.exe.manifest
12/05/2005 12:59 AM 564 Equipment.bdf
09/22/2004 06:46 PM 290,816 interop.wmplib.dll
12/04/2005 06:51 PM <DIR> Music
12/04/2005 07:25 PM <DIR> Profiles
12/04/2005 06:51 PM <DIR> Skins
7 File(s) 12,896,833 bytes

Directory of C:\Program Files\Games for Loving\Bliss\Actions

12/04/2005 06:51 PM <DIR> .
12/04/2005 06:51 PM <DIR> ..
10/08/2005 06:56 PM 917,454 BasicActions.bdf
1 File(s) 917,454 bytes

Directory of C:\Program Files\Games for Loving\Bliss\Music

12/04/2005 06:51 PM <DIR> .
12/04/2005 06:51 PM <DIR> ..
12/04/2005 06:51 PM <DIR> Action
12/04/2005 06:51 PM <DIR> Background
0 File(s) 0 bytes

Directory of C:\Program Files\Games for Loving\Bliss\Music\Action

12/04/2005 06:51 PM <DIR> .
12/04/2005 06:51 PM <DIR> ..
08/08/2005 10:10 AM 4,464,940 A Life Worth Living.mp3
12/04/2005 06:52 PM <DIR> Action
08/08/2005 10:16 AM 4,680,958 Cowgirl Boots.mp3
08/08/2005 10:11 AM 5,800,248 Endless Ocean.mp3
08/08/2005 10:17 AM 2,502,997 Hot Pursuit.mp3
08/08/2005 10:13 AM 4,634,703 Memory Of You.mp3
08/08/2005 10:17 AM 5,418,119 Mysterious Stranger.mp3
08/08/2005 10:15 AM 3,971,036 Soft Blend.mp3
7 File(s) 31,473,001 bytes

Directory of C:\Program Files\Games for Loving\Bliss\Music\Action\Action

12/04/2005 06:52 PM <DIR> .
12/04/2005 06:52 PM <DIR> ..
08/08/2005 10:10 AM 4,464,940 A Life Worth Living.mp3
08/08/2005 10:16 AM 4,680,958 Cowgirl Boots.mp3
08/08/2005 10:11 AM 5,800,248 Endless Ocean.mp3
08/08/2005 10:17 AM 2,502,997 Hot Pursuit.mp3
08/08/2005 10:13 AM 4,634,703 Memory Of You.mp3
08/08/2005 10:17 AM 5,418,119 Mysterious Stranger.mp3
08/08/2005 10:15 AM 3,971,036 Soft Blend.mp3
7 File(s) 31,473,001 bytes

Directory of C:\Program Files\Games for Loving\Bliss\Music\Background

12/04/2005 06:51 PM <DIR> .
12/04/2005 06:51 PM <DIR> ..
08/08/2005 10:11 AM 5,137,980 Incidental Contact.mp3
08/08/2005 10:12 AM 3,005,343 It Always Ends The Same.mp3
08/08/2005 10:12 AM 4,944,761 Last Love.mp3
08/08/2005 10:13 AM 5,958,054 Love And Other Illusions 15.mp3
08/08/2005 10:14 AM 4,776,847 Persuasive Touch 3.mp3
08/08/2005 10:14 AM 4,397,965 Safari Sundown 9.mp3
08/08/2005 10:16 AM 5,146,852 Signing Off.mp3
08/08/2005 10:15 AM 4,574,452 Without Conventions 2.mp3
8 File(s) 37,942,254 bytes

Directory of C:\Program Files\Games for Loving\Bliss\Profiles

12/04/2005 07:25 PM <DIR> .
12/04/2005 07:25 PM <DIR> ..
12/04/2005 07:30 PM 3,449 Kimberly.bpf
12/04/2005 07:12 PM 3,449 Paul.bpf
2 File(s) 6,898 bytes

Directory of C:\Program Files\Games for Loving\Bliss\Skins

12/04/2005 06:51 PM <DIR> .
12/04/2005 06:51 PM <DIR> ..
09/30/2005 11:55 AM 1,335,490 RedSatin.bmp
09/30/2005 12:01 PM 1,335,490 Stone.bmp
09/30/2005 12:04 PM 1,335,490 Tweed.bmp
3 File(s) 4,006,470 bytes

Total Files Listed:
35 File(s) 118,715,911 bytes
23 Dir(s) 17,986,641,920 bytes free

[Don]

Thanks for your detailed response, I will study this and see if I can figure out some explanation for the crash you are experiencing. I really appreciate your detailed and useful information.

The second action music directory should not be there, I don't know how that happened. I have looked over the install script, and that is not supposed to take place, nor have I ever seen it before. Normally the music should be in the music/action and music/background directories only. Actually, it doesn't matter where the music is located. The actual music used be the game is whatever music appears in the Media Player playlists "Bliss" and "Bliss Background". The music contained in those playlists will be used by the game regardless of where the actual files are on the disk.

I will get back to you on the crash, but it will probably not be until next week as I am still out of town until Tuesday.

Thanks,

Don

[Chameleon]

No problem... As I've indicated elsewhere, I am a C# Developer in Software Test Automation by profession; this is what I live for.

I need to install Visual Studio 2005... It's still in the bag I got from Microsoft at the launch event last week in Seattle... Then I can play around in the debugger.

[Don]

Hi,

I have placed a Beta Version of Bliss 1.3 on the website. This is a zip file containing only Bliss.exe. You will need to unzip the zip file and then replace your current Bliss.exe with the one from the zip file. Generally Bliss.exe is located at c:\Program Files\Games for Loving\Bliss.

This beta release fixes the bug reported here, as well as several other bugs.

It can be downloaded from http://www.gamesforloving.com/downloads ... _3beta.zip.

This is not a full install, you must have 1.2 installed prior to installing this Beta 1.3.

Thanks,

Don