Q&A: How to solve java.lang.NullPointerException in CiliaQ Preparator?

Q&A: How to solve java.lang.NullPointerException in CiliaQ Preparator?

Answer provided on 22nd of December 2022.

The problem

When running CiliaQ Preparator, I get the following error message:

java.lang.NullPointerException
	at ciliaQ_Prep_jnh.CiliaQPrepMain.run(CiliaQPrepMain.java:273)
	at ij.IJ.runUserPlugIn(IJ.java:217)
	at ij.IJ.runPlugIn(IJ.java:181)
	at ij.Executer.runCommand(Executer.java:137)
	at ij.Executer.run(Executer.java:66)
	at java.lang.Thread.run(Thread.java:750)

The solution

CiliaQ Preparator can only process an image which, in its state loaded into the plugin, is saved on the hard drive. Since CiliaQ Preparator will save output files automatically at the location where the input image is stored it cannot handle an image that is not stored on the hard drive since it does not have a "file location" property. To avoid this error make sure that the file you are running in CiliaQ Preparator is saved on the hard drive or only use the multi-task manager for selecting input files:

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