Ploppable RICO errors

Verified: January 2022 - TM:PE v11.5.2 / TM:PE 11.6

Update

There is now a new bug fixed and improved version of the Ploppable RICO mod: RICO revisited.

Please try that first as it resolves most Ploppable RICO errors and has many other significant improvements over the older mod!

Symptom

On-screen or in the log file, you'll see errors like one of the following:

• Object reference not set to an instance of an object [System.NullReferenceException]
• Simulation error: Object reference not set to an instance of an object
• NullReferenceException: Object reference not set to an instance of an object

In the log file, where full error details are shown, look for one or more of these errors in the stack traces:

• at BuildingAI.CheckUnlocking ....
• at PloppableRICO ....
• at ToolBase.OnEnable ....
• PloppableRICO.PloppableTool ....
• at RealTime.Simulation.Statistics ....

If you see any of those, then the issue is caused by Ploppable RICO assets/configurations.

If you don't see them, then it will be some other cause - see: Object reference not set to an instance of an object

Cause

There are two variants as follows:

1. The error is usually caused by Ploppable RICO assets that are missing some required item - usually a prop or a road. Note that the asset will work fine for any users that have all the props/roads/etc required for the asset.
2. It can sometimes be caused by incorrectly configured RICO settings for an asset, usually a missing construction cost, which can trigger errors in mods such as Real Time (you'll likely see RealTime.Simulation.Statistics in the error logs).

Solution

To find the breaking assets, look for errors like those shown below (ignore the + and - below, I'm just using them to highlight relevant lines):

Variant 1:

+ InitPrefab Failed920507824.Barn 04 - RICO_Data
 
(Filename: C:/buildslave/unity/build/artifacts/generated/common/runtime/DebugBindings.gen.cpp Line: 51)

- NullReferenceException: Object reference not set to an instance of an object
  at ToolBase.OnEnable () [0x00000] in <filename unknown>:0 
UnityEngine.GameObject:Internal_AddComponentWithType(Type)
UnityEngine.GameObject:AddComponent(Type)
UnityEngine.GameObject:AddComponent()
PloppableRICO.PloppableTool:Initialize()
PloppableRICO.Loading:OnLevelLoaded(LoadMode)
LoadingWrapper:OnLevelLoaded(UpdateMode)
<LoadLevelComplete>c__Iterator9:MoveNext()
LoadingManager:Update()

We want the line that starts with InitPrefab Failed, for example:

InitPrefab Failed920507824.Barn 04 - RICO_Data

Variant 2:

+ 897729711.Savelovskiy_City_Davis_Data Button Destroyed
 
(Filename: C:/buildslave/unity/build/artifacts/generated/common/runtime/DebugBindings.gen.cpp Line: 51)

- NullReferenceException: Object reference not set to an instance of an object
- at PloppableRICO.PloppableCommercial.GetConstructionCost () [0x00000] in <filename unknown>:0 
  at BuildingAI.GetLocalizedTooltip () [0x00000] in <filename unknown>:0 
  at PrefabInfo.GetLocalizedTooltip () [0x00000] in <filename unknown>:0 
  at PloppableRICO.PloppableTool.DrawBuildingButton (.BuildingInfo BuildingPrefab, System.String type) [0x00000] in <filename unknown>:0 
UnityEngine.DebugLogHandler:Internal_LogException(Exception, Object)
UnityEngine.DebugLogHandler:LogException(Exception, Object)
UnityEngine.Logger:LogException(Exception, Object)
UnityEngine.Debug:LogException(Exception)
PloppableRICO.PloppableTool:DrawBuildingButton(BuildingInfo, String)
PloppableRICO.PloppableTool:PopulateAssets()
PloppableRICO.PloppableTool:Initialize()
PloppableRICO.Loading:OnLevelLoaded(LoadMode)
LoadingWrapper:OnLevelLoaded(UpdateMode)
<LoadLevelComplete>c__Iterator9:MoveNext()
LoadingManager:Update()

We want the line that starts with a long number followed by ., for example:

897729711.Savelovskiy_City_Davis_Data Button Destroyed

So, as you can see, in both variants of the error, there's an asset mentioned a few lines before. We want the long number so we can construct a URL to the workshop page.

The base URL is: https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=

The long number should be added to the end of that base URL.

Using the assets mentioned in the examples above, the URLs would be:

• InitPrefab Failed920507824.Barn 04 - RICO_Data becomes:

  https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=920507824

• 897729711.Savelovskiy_City_Davis_Data Button Destroyed becomes:

  https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=897729711

The put the link in your browser and you'll find the broken asset. Unsubscribe it and it should fix the problem.

Note that for Variant 2 you might be able to fix the asset if you created a local RICO setting for it:

• Look for the LocalRICOSettings.xml file, it's usually in C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Cities_Skylines
• You can delete it, which will get rid of all local RICO settings (should fix the errors)
• Or you can edit it to fix the values:
  • Edit in a text editor (see Text Editors for a list of compatible text editors)
  • Look for construction-cost="" or construction-cost="0"...
  • Change it to any postive number, for example construction-cost="10"
  • Save the file
• In either case, exit the game to desktop after making changes, then reload and see if it's fixed.

Fixed?

If not, it's likely a different cause of the error, see: Object reference not set to an instance of an object

Other issues? See: Troubleshooting