java issue prevents alchemy from opening.

[kollatt]

ahh! i needs my chaotic drawing app.

is anyone here able to provide advice for solving issues with java? every time i try to open alchemy it says it can't run and cites
"Uncaught exception in main method: java.lang.NullPointerException:" as the problem. any help would be extremely appreciated.

[Karl DD]

hey,

Can you let us know what your operating system is and the version of Java your running?
You can check the java version here: http://www.java.com/en/download/help/testvm.xml

Also be sure you haven't moved the 'lib' folder in the main Alchemy folder.

Karl

[kollatt]

i use a macbook with the latest version of leopard. the java version i have is 1.5.0_13. any help on this as soon as possible would be wonderful. i had planned on using alchemy as part of my class lessons by sept. 15.

[Karl DD]

Hi,

Can you check to be sure you are using the Alpha 005 version of Alchemy?
It might even be worth downloading it again just to be sure.
If your on the latest version, then I need you to give me some more info on the error.

- Open the 'Console' application in your /Applications/Utilities/ folder
- Hit the 'Clear Display' button
- Run Alchemy
- Go back to the Console, and see what the error says
- Copy and paste the error message back here so I can check it out

Hear from ya soon.

Karl

[kollatt]

8/29/08 6:31:06 PM [0x0-0x1a61a6].Alchemy[1554] [JavaAppLauncher] A 64-bit JVM is available for 1.5.0
8/29/08 6:31:06 PM [0x0-0x1a61a6].Alchemy[1554] [JavaAppLauncher] JVMArchs not found in Java dictionary
8/29/08 6:31:13 PM [0x0-0x1a61a6].Alchemy[1554] Aug 29, 2008 6:31:13 PM org.java.plugin.registry.xml.ManifestParser <init>
8/29/08 6:31:13 PM [0x0-0x1a61a6].Alchemy[1554] INFO: got SAX parser factory - com.sun.org.apache.xerces.internal.jaxp.SAXParserFactoryImpl@7b7b11
8/29/08 6:31:13 PM [0x0-0x1a61a6].Alchemy[1554] Aug 29, 2008 6:31:13 PM org.java.plugin.registry.xml.PluginRegistryImpl configure
8/29/08 6:31:13 PM [0x0-0x1a61a6].Alchemy[1554] INFO: configured, stopOnError=false, isValidating=true
8/29/08 6:31:13 PM [0x0-0x1a61a6].Alchemy[1554] Aug 29, 2008 6:31:13 PM org.java.plugin.registry.xml.PluginRegistryImpl register
8/29/08 6:31:13 PM [0x0-0x1a61a6].Alchemy[1554] INFO: plug-in and fragment descriptors registered - 19
8/29/08 6:31:13 PM [0x0-0x1a61a6].Alchemy[1554] Aug 29, 2008 6:31:13 PM org.java.plugin.standard.StandardPluginManager activatePlugin
8/29/08 6:31:13 PM [0x0-0x1a61a6].Alchemy[1554] INFO: plug-in started - org.alchemy.core@1.0.0 (active/total: 1 of 19)

here's what i got. i am indeed running 005 and i've removed everything and re-downloaded a couple of times, but that unfortunately has not helped. i hope you can use this to figure it out. again, and as always, thanks for your help.

[Karl DD]

Hi,

Thanks for reporting back.
Although there is nothing strange there, that is the normal startup process.
Followed by this sort of thing as it loads the Alchemy modules:

Code: Select all

08/08/30 9:28:06 [0x0-0x21021].Alchemy[158] Aug 30, 2008 9:28:06 AM org.java.plugin.standard.StandardPluginManager activatePlugin
08/08/30 9:28:06 [0x0-0x21021].Alchemy[158] INFO: plug-in started - org.alchemy.affect.colourSwitcher@1.0.0 (active/total: 2 of 19)
08/08/30 9:28:06 [0x0-0x21021].Alchemy[158] Aug 30, 2008 9:28:06 AM org.java.plugin.standard.StandardPluginManager activatePlugin
08/08/30 9:28:06 [0x0-0x21021].Alchemy[158] INFO: plug-in started - org.alchemy.affect.blindness@1.0.3 (active/total: 3 of 19)

etc... etc... Followed by the plugin count - the last thing printed out in a normal startup:

Code: Select all

08/08/30 9:28:06 [0x0-0x21021].Alchemy[158] Number of Plugins: 18

So in your case, after that stuff is printed to the console, Alchemy pulls up with "Uncaught exception in main method: java.lang.NullPointerException:" ?
If that is the case, then there should be an error printed to the console.
Sometimes the console is a little slow to update.
If you could do it again, and after the error pops up, check the console (give it some time - but not more than say a minute or two).
The "Uncaught exception in main method" should show up in the console and will have more detail for me to look into.

Hear from you soon and good luck!

[kollatt]

sorry i didn't reply sooner. been busy with lessons and all that. a friend of mine fixed the problem. apparently there was a file that was left over created from something that alchemy did ( bug? ) that i wasn't able to discover and remove before re-installing. back to using my favorite inspirational shape app! silhouette thumbnails wooh!

[Karl DD]

Glad you got it working...
Any chance of getting your friend to elaborate on the problem?
Alchemy does put some Temporary files in the default temp directory, so there is a chance it could have been those left over somehow.
Would love to know

[Sellis]

I'd like to know how to fix this. I've come across this problem recently as well.

[Karl DD]

Hey,

Can you let us know what platform you are on?
And if possible the output of the console when you start Alchemy up.

Cheers,
Karl