# "Object reference not set to an instance of an object" when getting externals in an SVN repository
**URL:** https://www.finalbuilder.com/forums/t/object-reference-not-set-to-an-instance-of-an-object-when-getting-externals-in-an-svn-repository/6077
**Category:** Bugs
**Created:** [January 13, 2017, 8:17am UTC](https://www.finalbuilder.com/forums/t/object-reference-not-set-to-an-instance-of-an-object-when-getting-externals-in-an-svn-repository/6077 "2017-01-13T08:17:04Z")
**Posts on this page:** 6
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@miruna](https://www.finalbuilder.com/forums/u/miruna)
#### Post date: [January 13, 2017, 8:17am UTC](https://www.finalbuilder.com/forums/t/object-reference-not-set-to-an-instance-of-an-object-when-getting-externals-in-an-svn-repository/6077/1 "2017-01-13T08:17:04Z")
Continua 1.8.0.243
Cannot get changes for repository @link(2002, ef184fd5-fa9d-4c6e-a52f-330d01f91558)[REPONAME]: Exception: NullReferenceException
Message: Object reference not set to an instance of an object.
Stack Trace: at Continua.Modules.Builds.Repositories.Subversion.AddExternalsToChangesetState(String workingFolder, IChangeset changeset, Boolean isTag)
at Continua.Modules.Builds.Repositories.Subversion.GetNewChangesetsForRepositoryFolder(String workingFolder, Int32& highestRev, Boolean isDefaultBranch, Boolean isTag, String repoFolder)
at Continua.Modules.Builds.Repositories.SubversionRepositoryPlugIn.GetNewChangesets(IRepositoryExecutionContext context, IRepositoryCache cache)
at Continua.Modules.Builds.Repositories.Repository.GetNewChangesets(RepositoryCache cache, IRepositoryExecutionContext context)
at Continua.Modules.Builds.Repositories.Repository.GetRepositoryChanges(RepositoryCache cache, IRepositoryExecutionContext context)
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### Author:  [@Sparky](https://www.finalbuilder.com/forums/u/Sparky)
#### Post date: [January 16, 2017, 2:16am UTC](https://www.finalbuilder.com/forums/t/object-reference-not-set-to-an-instance-of-an-object-when-getting-externals-in-an-svn-repository/6077/2 "2017-01-16T02:16:52Z")
Hi Miruna,
There’s no obvious cause for this error in the code and we have not been able to reproduce it. If you are able to reproduce it, can you [enable debug logging](http://wiki.finalbuilder.com/display/continua/Debug+Logging), restart the Continua CI Server service, then send the debug log to [support@finalbuilder.com](mailto:support@finalbuilder.com) , once the error reoccurs.
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### Author:  [@Sparky](https://www.finalbuilder.com/forums/u/Sparky)
#### Post date: [January 16, 2017, 2:23am UTC](https://www.finalbuilder.com/forums/t/object-reference-not-set-to-an-instance-of-an-object-when-getting-externals-in-an-svn-repository/6077/3 "2017-01-16T02:23:29Z")
Can you install the latest version of Continua CI first? Version 1.8.0.243 is almost 5 months old now and then have been numerous to the Subversion repository since then.
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### Author:  [@miruna](https://www.finalbuilder.com/forums/u/miruna)
#### Post date: [January 16, 2017, 4:46am UTC](https://www.finalbuilder.com/forums/t/object-reference-not-set-to-an-instance-of-an-object-when-getting-externals-in-an-svn-repository/6077/4 "2017-01-16T04:46:19Z")
Thanks, Dave! I’ve sent the debug log by email to Tech Support as it contains too much personal info to post the link here. Let me know if you need anything else.
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### Author:  [@xiuhong.xiang](https://www.finalbuilder.com/forums/u/xiuhong.xiang)
#### Post date: [January 16, 2017, 4:52am UTC](https://www.finalbuilder.com/forums/t/object-reference-not-set-to-an-instance-of-an-object-when-getting-externals-in-an-svn-repository/6077/5 "2017-01-16T04:52:22Z")
It happened to our repository many times, and last time it happened when I changed an external from [https://xxx.com/svn/lf/Parts/WebCommonCtrls/Branches/10.2](https://xxx.com/svn/lf/Parts/WebCommonCtrls/Branches/10.2) WebCommonCtrls to [https://xxx.com/svn/LF/Parts/WebCommonCtrls/Branches/10.2@602836](https://xxx.com/svn/LF/Parts/WebCommonCtrls/Branches/10.2@602836) WebCommonCtrls. And this issue can’t be fixed even after I changed the external back and recreated the repository.
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### Author:  [@Sparky](https://www.finalbuilder.com/forums/u/Sparky)
#### Post date: [January 19, 2017, 12:40pm UTC](https://www.finalbuilder.com/forums/t/object-reference-not-set-to-an-instance-of-an-object-when-getting-externals-in-an-svn-repository/6077/6 "2017-01-19T12:40:16Z")
Version 1.8.1.256 uploaded yesterday includes changes to the error handling of externals which are invalid. These are now ignored and a descriptive warning is logged to the event log.