Error Received While Browsing Articles Via the Category Pane in the Customer Portal

Knowledgebase version 8.0.41

When the category links are clicked in the Category Pane of the Customer Portal, the following error occurs:

System.NullReferenceException: Object reference not set to an instance of an object.

This happens on a computer that has Microsoft .NET Framework 1.0 installed -- but does not have Microsoft Visual Studio .NET installed -- when you try to access data using ADO Interop on an ASP.NET page that resides at an identical site and that is hosted on the same computer.


Microsoft has confirmed that this is an issue with the following products:

Microsoft ASP.NET 1.0

Microsoft ASP.NET 1.1

Microsoft ADO.NET 2.0

Microsoft ActiveX Data Objects 2.6

Microsoft ActiveX Data Objects 2.7

Microsoft ADO.NET 1.1

To resolve this problem, register the Adodb.dll file in the global assembly cache (GAC). On a computer where only the .NET Framework is installed, the file Gacutil.exe does not exist. Either obtain the gacutil file by installing Microsoft .NET Framework SDK, or create a Visual Studio.NET setup project that uses the installer to install the correct components.

To register Adodb.dll in the GAC, follow these steps:

1. Click Start and then click Run. 
2. In the Run dialog box, type the following command:
   C:\WINDOWS\Microsoft.NET\Framework\v1.0.3705\gacutil /i C:\Program Files\Microsoft.NET\Primary Interop Assemblies\adodb.dll
3. Then click OK.

NOTE: For more information, please visit the following Microsoft Support link:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/810098

Knowledgebase users who have clicked on the category link in the Category Pane of the Customer Portal.

If you have trouble performing these steps, or have additional questions, please contact our Support team at 877-373-7848 (option 2) or via email at cimsupport@moxiesoft.com.