NullReferenceError

Hello. I have been trying to figure out unity with the help of BurgZeg's delightful tutorial series. However as of 2 days ago I've hit a dead end. And I cannot figure this once out. the error message is~

I've gone back and forth through all the lines referenced in the error and even rebuilt this thing one. I am at my wits end so any help would be greatly appreciated. Thank you kindly in advance.

PHP:

void OnGUI() {
    
    GUI.skin = mySkin;
    
    DisplayName();
    DisplayPointsLeft ();
    DisplayAttributes();
    
    DisplayVitals ();
    
    DisplaySkills ();
    
    DisplayCreateButton();

    
    }
    
private void DisplayName() {
        GUI.Label(new Rect(10, 10, 100, 25), "Name:");
    _toon.Name = GUI.TextField(new Rect(65,10, 100, 25), _toon.Name);
    }
    
    private void DisplayAttributes () {
    
        for(int cnt = 0; cnt < Enum.GetValues(typeof(AttributeName)).Length; cnt++) {
        GUI.Label(new Rect
            (OFFSET,                                                                                 //x
            statStartingPos + (cnt * LINE_HEIGHT),                                         //y
            STAT_LABEL_WIDTH,                                                                 //width
            LINE_HEIGHT),                                                                         //height
            ((AttributeName)cnt).ToString());
            
        GUI.Label(new Rect(STAT_LABEL_WIDTH + OFFSET,                         //x
            statStartingPos + (cnt * LINE_HEIGHT),                                         //y
            BASE_VALUELABEL_WIDTH,                                                         //width
            LINE_HEIGHT),                                                                         //height
            _toon.GetPrimaryAttribute(cnt).AdjustedBaseValue.ToString());
            
            if(GUI. Button(new Rect(OFFSET + STAT_LABEL_WIDTH + BASE_VALUELABEL_WIDTH,     //x
                statStartingPos + (cnt * BUTTON_HEIGHT),                                                            //y
            BUTTON_WIDTH,                                                                                                     //width
            BUTTON_HEIGHT),                                                                                                //height
            "-")) {
                if(_toon.GetPrimaryAttribute(cnt).BaseValue  > MIN_STARTING_ATTRIBUTE_VALUE) {
                _toon.GetPrimaryAttribute(cnt).BaseValue--;
                pointsLeft ++;
                    _toon.StatUpdate();
                }
            }
            if(GUI. Button(new Rect(OFFSET + STAT_LABEL_WIDTH + BASE_VALUELABEL_WIDTH + BUTTON_WIDTH,     //x
                statStartingPos + (cnt * BUTTON_HEIGHT),                                                                                    //y
            BUTTON_WIDTH,                                                                                                                             //width
            BUTTON_HEIGHT),                                                                                                                        //height
            "+")) {
                
                if(pointsLeft > 0) {
                    _toon.GetPrimaryAttribute(cnt).BaseValue++;
                    pointsLeft --;
                    
                _toon.StatUpdate();
                }
            }
        }
    }
                
                private void DisplayVitals () {
            for(int cnt = 0; cnt < Enum.GetValues(typeof(VitalName)).Length; cnt++) {
        GUI.Label(new Rect(OFFSET,                                                                     //x
                statStartingPos + ((cnt + 7) * LINE_HEIGHT),                                        //y
                STAT_LABEL_WIDTH,                                                                         //width
                LINE_HEIGHT),                                                                                 //height
                ((VitalName)cnt).ToString() );
                
        GUI.Label(new Rect(OFFSET + STAT_LABEL_WIDTH,                                     //x
                40 + ((cnt + 7) * LINE_HEIGHT),                                                         //y
                BASE_VALUELABEL_WIDTH,                                                                 //width
                LINE_HEIGHT),                                                                                 //height
                _toon.GetVital(cnt).AdjustedBaseValue.ToString());
        }
    }
        private void DisplaySkills () {
            for(int cnt = 0; cnt < Enum.GetValues(typeof(SkillName)).Length; cnt++) {
        GUI.Label(new Rect(OFFSET * 4+ STAT_LABEL_WIDTH + BASE_VALUELABEL_WIDTH + BUTTON_WIDTH * 2,     //x
                statStartingPos + (cnt * LINE_HEIGHT),                                                                                         //y
                STAT_LABEL_WIDTH,                                                                                                                 //width
                LINE_HEIGHT),                                                                                                                         //height
                ((SkillName)cnt).ToString() );
                
        GUI.Label(new Rect(OFFSET * 4+ STAT_LABEL_WIDTH + BASE_VALUELABEL_WIDTH + BUTTON_WIDTH * 2 + STAT_LABEL_WIDTH,     //x
                statStartingPos + (cnt * LINE_HEIGHT),                                                                                                                         //y
                BASE_VALUELABEL_WIDTH,                                                                                                                                         //width
                LINE_HEIGHT),                                                                                                                                                         //height
                _toon.GetSkill(cnt).AdjustedBaseValue.ToString());
            }
        }
        private void DisplayPointsLeft() {
        GUI.Label(new Rect(250, 10, 100, 25), "Points Left: " + pointsLeft.ToString());
                }
                private void DisplayCreateButton() {
            if (GUI.Button(new Rect(    Screen.width/2 - 50, statStartingPos + (10 * LINE_HEIGHT),100, LINE_HEIGHT),"Create")) {
                GameObject gs = GameObject.Find("__GameSettings");
                GameSettings gsScript = GameObject.Find("__GameSettings").GetComponent<GameSettings>();
                
                gs.GetComponent<GameSettings>();
                
                gsScript.SaveCharacterData();
                
                
                Application.LoadLevel("Level1");
                }
            }
        }

 

Could you post (or point out) just the line of code that's generating the error?

 

Oh right, sorry.

;

 

Are you sure there's an active game object in the scene with that exact name?

 

poistive. I've already started from scratch again so if I figure it out I'll post the solution in case someone else has the same problem.

 

Actually, are you sure that's the exact line that's generating the error? (I ask because that line shouldn't generate an exception regardless of whether the game object in question can be found.)

 

*slams head on desk* sorry it was one right below it.

 

Are you sure the '__GameSettings' object has a GameSettings component?

One thing you can do is break the statement up into two statements, one that acquires the game object and one that acquires the component. Then, use Debug.Log() statements or the debugger to determine which of those (if either) is null.

 

Yep I sure the component is there. And I've broken the statement up several times thanks to your advice and was able to pin it down, unfortunately I still couldn't figure out the solution. I believe I am going to scrap this and start over, however I thank you for your patients and assistance. Cheers.

 

Just a quick thought about it, but have you check the compilation order is OK ? Is your "GameSettings" script in the same folder (or a previously compiled folder) as your script having the problem.
Check this page for info : http://unity3d.com/support/documentation/ScriptReference/index.Script_compilation_28Advanced29.html

I'm not sure this would throw a NullReferenceError, but I once had problems with the script compilation priority thing, so I was thinking maybe it could help you. I hope it does.

 

Well that's an interesting concept. Thanks for the link I'm going over it now. Hopefully it'ss mention something about why that error is bring up my E drive... It's an empty drive.