C# Error "The type initializer for ... threw an exception

Question

This error occurs only in some computers. By reading the stack information, there is some problem when I call to this static method ("FormatQuery") in a static class:

using System; using System.Collections.Generic; using System.Data; using System.Diagnostics; using System.IO; using System.Text; using System.Windows.Forms; using DevExpress.XtraEditors; using FlexCel.Report; using FlexCel.XlsAdapter; using ComboBox=System.Windows.Forms.ComboBox;  namespace XSoftArt.A {     static class RHelper     {         private static string FormatQuery(string FieldName, int Count,             CheckedListBox chekedListBox)         {             string ID = string.Empty;             int n = Count;              foreach (DataRowView item in chekedListBox.CheckedItems)             {                 ID = ID + item["" + FieldName + ""];                 if (n > 1)                 {                     ID = ID + " , ";                     n--;                 }             }             return ID;         }          public static string FormatQuery(CheckedListBox chekedListBox)         {             return FormatQuery(chekedListBox.ValueMember,                 chekedListBox.CheckedItems.Count, chekedListBox);         }     } 

So, what's the problem? How do I solve it? Is there something wrong with the project configuration or debbuging mode or what?

Error information:

   at XSoftArt.EVS.ReportHelper.FormatQuery(CheckedListBox chekedListBox)    at XSoftArt.EVS.NewEmailSelectClient.LoadList_v2(String search, TextBox txtbox)    at XSoftArt.EVS.NewEmailSelectClient.LoadContacts()    at XSoftArt.EVS.NewEmailSelectClient.button7_Click(Object sender, EventArgs e)    at System.Windows.Forms.Control.OnClick(EventArgs e)    at System.Windows.Forms.Button.OnClick(EventArgs e)    at System.Windows.Forms.Button.OnMouseUp(MouseEventArgs mevent)    at System.Windows.Forms.Control.WmMouseUp(Message& m, MouseButtons button, Int32 clicks)    at System.Windows.Forms.Control.WndProc(Message& m)    at System.Windows.Forms.ButtonBase.WndProc(Message& m)    at System.Windows.Forms.Button.WndProc(Message& m)    at System.Windows.Forms.Control.ControlNativeWindow.OnMessage(Message& m)    at System.Windows.Forms.Control.ControlNativeWindow.WndProc(Message& m)    at System.Windows.Forms.NativeWindow.Callback(IntPtr hWnd, Int32 msg, IntPtr wparam, IntPtr lparam) 

Answer 1

A Type Initializer exception indicates that the type couldn't be created. This would occur typically right before your call to your method when you simply reference that class.

Is the code you have here the complete text of your type? I would be looking for something like an assignment to fail. I see this a lot with getting app settings and things of that nature.

static class RHelper {      //If this line of code failed, you'd get this error      static string mySetting = Settings.MySetting; }  

You can also see this with static constructors for types.

In any case, is there any more to this class?

Answer 2

I had the same error but in my case it was caused by mismatch in platform target settings. One library was set specifically to x86 while the main application was set to 'Any'...and then I moved my development to an x64 laptop.