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alexhodos
alexhodos
Participating Frequently
March 10, 2018
Question

attempt to index field 'root file' (a nil value)

  • March 10, 2018
  • 5 replies
  • 4799 views

Hi,

I imported a large amount of photos I took on a wedding. I marked let's say 200 as rejected. When I click on the delete rejected photos option, I receive this message: An internal error has occurred: ?:0: attempt to index field 'root file' (a nil value) and LR will not delete the files.

I am using Windows 10 home 64 bit, and the latest LR CC version.

I googled the internet there and back, but did not find a solution up until now.

THX in advance, BR, LX

    This topic has been closed for replies.

    5 replies

    C
    charlesr53790143
    Participant
    February 9, 2019

    As I mentioned, I first disabled ALL plugins. That did not affect the outcome.

    The logitech plugin is there (disabled). had the other nil value error that others mention in relation to that plugin,  some months ago, but disabling the plugin resolved that issue. The error discussed here is a new one that popped up recently.

    GoldingD
    GoldingD
    Legend
    February 10, 2019

    charlesr53790143  wrote

    As I mentioned, I first disabled ALL plugins. That did not affect the outcome.

    The logitech plugin is there (disabled). had the other nil value error that others mention in relation to that plugin,  some months ago, but disabling the plugin resolved that issue. The error discussed here is a new one that popped up recently.

    Ok, this discussion has gotten muddled, always a possibility when others have the same problem.

    Second issue, is I replied to an old discussion, should check more carefully.OP might have long ago resolved but forgot to state as such.

    charlesr53790143, I recommend that you start your own new discussion. Include everything you have stated in this discussion. That way you will have your own brand new discussion that might be more likely to get some feedback.

    include your system information in your discussion (in LR /Help/System Information/Copy/)

    when you do that, include a statement in this older forum that you have done so, and provide a link.

    GoldingD
    GoldingD
    Legend
    February 9, 2019

    So, unless I missed (highly possible) a response, no one asked what plug-ins you have.

    Specifically do you have LogiOptions?

    That one is for LogiTech keyboards/mice, specifically for the Logitech Kraft Advanced keyboard and/or the MX Master 2S wireless mouse (maybe others)

    When I have this plug-in enabled, your error pops up. When I disable it the error goes away. And the error is just annoying, nothing bad happens (although LR finishing the delete takes a bit more time as it churns up the error message)

    C
    charlesr53790143
    Participant
    February 9, 2019

    Additional note. If I display the X-flagged files, and select a range of them, sometimes I can delete them by right clicking and selecting ​Remove Photos​, I had 98 photos, if I selected all 98 I got the error message. But I could select as many as 25 photos, that worked ​without​ throwing an error. I don't know what the upper limit is, because I ran out of x-flagged photos by that time.

    C
    charlesr53790143
    Participant
    February 9, 2019

    I have just run into the same problem. Adobe Photoshop Lightroom Classic CC 8.1. I disabled ALL plugins, and the error persists. But I found an interesting issue.

    I have been importing as DNG. I select Photos/Delete Rejected Photos. and click the Delete from Disk button. I immediately get the internal error "attempt to index field 'rootFile' (a nil value)".  I click OK, and the screen is showing me the X-flagged photos. I right click on the FIRST shown, select Show in Explorer, and it says it cannot be found. I "Cancel" that dialog. I right-click on the same photo and select Remove Photo and remove it. The display is still showing me the X-flagged photos (minus the one I removed).

    THEN, I right-click on the next one showing select Show in Explorer, and it DOES find it in Explorer. So it is there. I leave the Explorer window open. I select Photos/Delete Rejected Photos, and I can see the photo file being removed in explorer. BUT I get the SAME ERROR MESSAGE, so the first photo was deleted from the drive but not removed from Lightroom.

    So, a clear error in Lightroom. It deletes the photo file but won't delete from the catalog, and it fs on the first to delete. I can remove tem one at a time, but that is tedious as I throw a lot of photos away.

    Rob_Cullen
    Community Expert
    Rob_CullenCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    March 11, 2018

    Lightroom-CC v1  or  Lightroom Classic-CC v7.2 ?

    The "Attempt to Index....." error message is a  cryptic rare one with an answer very difficult to find.

    I can only suggest my thoughts-

    1. Are the original files 'available' to Lightroom? ie. Not shown as "missing"

    2. If Lr-CC v1,  are the files 'in the cloud' and internet connected?

    3. Does the location of the original images have full Read/Write permissions? (even for Windows folders)

    And a link to search from Adobe Help-

    Search results

    Regards. My System: Windows-11, Lightroom-Classic 15.1.1, Photoshop 27.3.1, ACR 18.1.1, Lightroom 9.0, Lr-iOS 10.4.0, Bridge 16.0.2 .
    alexhodos
    alexhodosAuthor
    Participating Frequently
    March 11, 2018

    Hi,

    thx for your response.

    1, yes. They are available, and I tried it on 2 different HDDs... internal and external. After applying the delete rejected photos option, some of the files are deleted.. some will not, and some will be deleted but not removed from the catalog.

    2, nope, this is LR Classic CC. Sorry, if I was not clear. And the files are on my disks.

    3, yes, they have all permissions. I am logged on as an admin, so it should not be a problem.

    THX for the links. I will take a look, even though I google internet a lot before I created this post, but probably I have missed something.

    THX and BR, LX

    Rob_Cullen
    Community Expert
    Rob_CullenCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    March 11, 2018

    Another thought-

    Can you check one of the files that will not delete using the OS - {Right-click > Show in Explorer}, then {Right-click > Properties} and look at the file Attributes. Is the "Read only" box checked black? Permissions (Attributes in Windows) can be applied to individual files, so being the Admin does not necessarily mean you have full "Read/write" privileges for individual files.

    some of the files are deleted.. some will not, and some will be deleted but not removed from the catalog.

    Yes, you have some weirdness going on there!

    The standard response if often- Reset the Preferences. Resetting Preferences in Lightroom CC/6

    Not sure what you mean by- "tried it on 2 different HDDs...".

    Do you have images on several drives that are all referenced in the Catalog?

    but not removed from the catalog

    This does not seem possible. Do you still see a thumbnail, dimmed, and with the rejected X flag in the grid? (I guess it now also shows the 'missing' icon [!] )

    Regards. My System: Windows-11, Lightroom-Classic 15.1.1, Photoshop 27.3.1, ACR 18.1.1, Lightroom 9.0, Lr-iOS 10.4.0, Bridge 16.0.2 .
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