Automation Error

• Error: 'Automation Error. Description was not provided.'

• Error: 'Automation Error. Invalid argument ... in SetBitmap'

You may have received one of these Automation Error messages when placing or sizing irrigation heads.

With either of these functions, the system attempts to set the legacy toolbar image to the radius of the spray head selected. If you receive an Automation Error when doing this, it's because you are using an extremely old version of one of our toolbars. As a result, the common Windows library for dealing with toolbars is unable to load the revised bitmap image.

If you've received either of these Automation Error messages, please follow our steps to download and run the latest Land F/X Workstation installer.

• Error: 'Automation Error: Problem in loading application'

• Error: 'Automation Error: No database'

You may see one of these errors when opening one of our tools or when opening AutoCAD or F/X CAD.

A Problem in loading application error means that the library itself cannot be loaded. A No database error means that there's no object database at all. Either way, the only solution is to reinstall AutoCAD or F/X CAD.

• Error connecting to LandFX database: Automation Error

You might see this error when attempting to use one of our tools. The cause will depend on whether your office has Local Data or Cloud Data, although in either case you'll need to send us a technical support ticket.

• If your office has Local Data and you saw this error, you are likely experiencing a problem with your MySQL database server.

• If you have Cloud Data, you may also see the following error message: Access denied for user ‘ODBC’@‘XXX.XX.XX.XXX’ (where XXX.XX.XX.XXX represents your Internet IP address). In this case, your install.xml file has been mistakenly switched to Local Data.

In either case, please send us a technical support ticket that includes:

• The fact that you received the error message Error connecting to LandFX database: Automation Error
• A screenshot of the error (if possible).
• A description of the action you attempted within AutoCAD right before you saw the error (i.e., which of our tools you attempted to use).
• The type of data your office is supposed to be using (Cloud or Local). If you're on Cloud, please inform us whether you received the 'ODBC'@ error mentioned above.

• Error: 'Automation Error: Error decrypting data'

You may have received this error when editing a detail. The error is an indication that the system is unable to open the detail you are trying to edit. Possible reasons include:

• The detail file could already be open. Another user in your office might have it open, or you might even have it open in another window.
• Your account might not have permissions to open the detail file.
• The detail could be saved in a later version of AutoCAD from what you have (for instance, if an AutoCAD 2018 user has saved the detail and you don’t have 2018).
• The detail could be damaged or require an Audit

1. Open the File menu in AutoCAD and select Open. Then select the detail file you're trying to edit.

2. You should now receive a clearer error message, which you can then troubleshoot. You will most likely received one of the following two error messages:

• That file is open by (name of person in your office)
• Error opening file, DWG must be recovered (or a similar error)

• That file is open by (name of person in your office)

If you see this message, you'll know the CAD user named in the error message has the detail open. If so, that person will need to close the detail file before you can edit it.

• Error opening file, DWG must be recovered (or a similar error)

If you see this message, you'll need to recover the detail file.

Run the RECOVER command by either:

• Typing RECOVER in the Command line and pressing Enter, or ...

 

• Selecting Drawing Utilities from the AutoCAD File menu and then selecting Recover... from the menu that opens (as pictured to the right).

 

 

You should now be able to open and edit the detail successfully.

• Automation Error. Null object ID

This error can occur when you're trying to work with a block or detail file, such as updating a detail.

1. Try to open the block or detail file causing the error. (If you're using our software on a Mac using Parallels, try to open the file on the Windows side.)

2. This error can be caused by drawing corruption. Follow our drawing cleanup steps on both the file causing the issue and the drawing where you tried to use it.

3. Verify that the block or detail causing the error isn't saved in a newer DWG version. For example, the error can result from an older CAD version trying to use a block saved in a newer file type. If the file is saved in a newer version, save it into a version that is compatible with the CAD version you're using.

• Error: 'Automation Error: On locked layer'

You might receive this error when attempting to place a schedule or block. If so, the current layer is locked.

If you receive this error, open the Layer Properties Manager and follow our steps to unlock the current layer.

You should now be able to place the block or schedule without seeing the error.

• Error: 'Automation Error: access is denied' – possibly accompanied by a 404 File not found error

You might see the Automation Error: Access denied message, and possibly a 404 File not found error, when placing blocks. The error occurs because the blocks are failing to download due to a connection error. The blocks can be problematic in several possible ways. Examples include:

• Outdated Land F/X symbol blocks without the letter prefix in their file names (which we added to our default blocks a few years ago)
• Blocks in incorrect locations

The file names of the problematic blocks should be listed just before or after the error message in the Command line. Take note of these file names.

First, try deleting the block's source file from the folder LandFX/Blocks. Then try to place the same object again. You may need to re-assign the symbol to the block before you can place it.

Still getting the error? You may need to create the slide (SLD) files manually in the directory that contains the blocks you attempted to download. Doing so will prevent the drawing from trying to download those files every time, which will prevent the Automation Error.

• Error: 'Automation Error: An invalid character was found in text context'

This error is the result of illegal characters in your drawing or schedule.

You'll need to do a bit of digging to figure out which entity has an illegal character in its name. Here's an example:

Near the top of the Command line, you might see something like the following:

• [3.164] (sys-error "Automation Error. An invalid character was found in text content.rn")
• :ERROR-BREAK.159 nil
• [4.156] (intelligent-invoke # TEXT 4 "037")
• [5.148] (vlax-put-property # TEXT "037”)

The key text to look for here is:

• The error message itself, and
• The number within quotation marks following #TEXT

Essentially, look for the Automation Error text, then look for # TEXT after it. Take note of the charactes within the quotation marks right after # TEXT (in our example: "037").

To find the item with the illegal character, you'll need to do a search for all items related to this value in the Command line. This search will identify which items you need to check for the illegal characters. We recommend that you:

• Copy the whole command line and paste that text into a text file or word processing document, and then ...
• Use the FIND command (CTRL+F on a Windows keyboard, or Command+F on a Mac keyboard) in the text file or word processing document to search for the value that came up in your Command line.

The screenshot to the right shows an example of text you might see in the Command line when encountering this error, as copied and pasted into a text file. We've used three boxes to mark the clues to the problematic item.

 

To find the item causing the error:

 

1. Verify the error message and value for the object that's causing it (middle box).

 

2. Search for the value you've identified in the Command line (top box).

 

3. Record the name of the item (such as a block or hatch) associated with that value (bottom box).

In this example, we've searched for 037 and found that the problematic item is the tree Acer saccharum. We know this because the name of the symbol assigned to that tree is followed by an empty set of quotation marks (the attribute value), then by a set of quotes containing the value we've searched for, which is followed directly by another number.

If the issue is resulting from a plant in your drawing, for example, the issue commonly results from editing a plant and mistakenly adding an illegal character to the Remarks or Notes field. Note that the problem is with the data in the active Land F/X project – not with the symbol block – despite the fact that the illegal character appears in the name of the block in the Command line.

In this case, we'd edit the plant and check for and remove illegal characters in the text boxes in the Plant Info dialog box, such as the Remarks field (most commonly) or even the name fields.

You might also encounter this error if you're using one of our old default Preference Sets. Specifically, the problem would lie with Schematic Irrigation categories. If so, you'll see characters that resemble the "Wingding" font in the Command line.

• Error: 'Automation Error: The system cannot locate the resource specified'

You might also see the following error message: Unable to connect to FXDatabase on this computer. Database connection confirmed to be running yet connection refused.

If you see this Automation Error message, a physical or software firewall is preventing CAD from functioning correctly.

1. Close CAD.

2. Follow our instructions to add AutoCAD or F/X CAD as an exception.

3. Reopen CAD and repeat the action that resulted in the error.

Still seeing the error? Move on to the next step.

4. Create a new AutoCAD or F/X CAD profile, or open a different existing profile. Then attempt the action that resulted in the error.

• Don't see the error now? The issue was linked to the profile you were using when you saw the error. You'll need to keep using this new (or existing) profile moving forward. If necessary, you can customize this profile with your preferred settings.
• Still seeing the error in the new (or existing) profile? Move on to the next step.

5. Follow our steps to tether Land F/X using your phone.

• Don't see the error now? The problem is with your network rather than with anything related to Land F/X. Ask your IT administrator to troubleshoot your network.
• Still seeing the error? It's time to send us a technical support ticket describing the error. Remember to send us the exact text of the error message and let us know that you've tried all these steps.

• Error connecting to LandFX database: Automation Error. connect failed

You might see this error message if you've recently installed the C3D Object Enabler and are attempting to open a DWG file.

 

This error occurs because Autodesk has begun using SQLite for the C3D Object Enabler, which interferes with the version of SQLite we deployed with Single-User Local Data installations.

We've changed the version of SQLite deployed in new installations to be compatible with the C3D Object Enabler. You can correct this issue by downloading and running the latest Land F/X Workstation installer. The installer will load the updated version and resolve the error.

Still seeing the error after running the latest F/X Workstation installer?

If you've already run the latest F/X Workstation installer and are continuing to see this error, you may be on a domain (you would have had to press Ctrl + Alt + Delete to sign on) and the user who is currently logged in does not have Modify permissions for the Land F/X database file.

To correct this error, the user will need to be granted Modify permissions to the following directory and all its contents: C:\ProgramData\LandFX

Need help? Follow our steps for changing permissions on the directory listed above, taking care to select the Modify box under Allow.

• Automation error: Invalid class

This error is caused by the software failing to make a connection to your MySQL server. We attempted to make a test connection to your MySQL server, but the ping service on that system has most likely been disabled. In general, this issue will only occur in domain environments that are managed by an IT representative.

To address this issue, have your IT administrator follow our MySQL errors and troubleshooting steps.

•  AcRxClassName is not in the system registry

You may have seen this error when trying to place a schedule. Here's the solution.

• Error connecting to LandFX database: Automation Error. Provider cannot be found. It may not be properly installed

You might have seen this error message when trying to use Local Data with an M1 Mac, which is currently not supported due to the unavailability of ODBC connectors for ARM architecture.

To address this issue, follow our steps to select Cloud Data (step 4 of our Switch to Cloud Data steps). The software will not function in a Local Data configuration, so the other steps in that article cannot be completed on the machine where you saw this error.

If you (or the user you are assisting) had a Local Data installation on a previous machine and need to migrate your project data to Cloud, you'll need to complete our entire process of switching to Cloud Data on that other machine. Otherwise you can restore from backups:

• Back Up and Restore Projects, Templates, and Preference Sets
• Import Project Data from .lfx or auto_projdata.lfx or Backup File

• Automation Error when attempting to send us a technical support ticket

If you saw an Automation Error message when attempting to use our Support tool to send us a file in a technical support ticket, or if the tool is simply not working, check whether you have zip file software installed on your computer – specifically, WinZip.

We've seen this issue occur on computers that have an expired trial of Winzip installed. If so, try removing it or purchasing it.

You can also try making a zip file of your drawing and Land F/X project data manually, and emailing the zip file to us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..