What does " Fatal error: Call to a member function" mean?

[wdberatung]

I run into this error more and more, with CMSMS 1.7.1 or 1.8.2, both with PHP 5.2.9 :

for example:

Fatal error: Call to a member function GetContent() on a non-object in somedomain_name\lib\content.functions.php on line 637

when I search the forum, I find only some explanations for some plugins or tags, but no general explanation.

I cannot remember having these errors in versions earlier 1.7.1 ...

what can be done to use the plugins and / or modules and getting rid of these messages?

[Wishbone]

Are you getting this error just using CMS? Or are you writing code? I get that a lot when I'm developing an admin panel, and I'm calling a method from an object that I haven't created properly. What are you doing to get the error?

[wdberatung]

well, I am just using published CMSMS modules or plugins ;=)

This error occurs when calling modules or plugins, not only a specific one, more than one, and as I pointed out, the answers in the forum always refer to one of those modules

I would like to know how it is possible to publish modules / plugins which do not function properly, 

is it my fault that I get this errors?
is it the problem that the requirements of these addons are not documentated

how can this happen and what can be done as a user?

[Peciura]

I would reupload all files once more. FTP errors are more common than you think.

[wdberatung]

@Dr. CSS:
CMSMS 1.7.1 or 1.8.2, both with PHP 5.2.9 :

@Peciura:
I uploaded to 2 different domains and I tested at my server locally

so there seems to be no misconfiguration at my side,

I just want to know what these messages mean and whether I can get these modules or plugins to work or must I stamp them into the dustbin?

Notice, these messages arose since CMSMS 1.7.1 is out...

[Peciura]

You could ask module/plugin developer to update their code or look for replacement.

[jmcgin51]

You could ask module/plugin developer to update their code or look for replacement.

I think the OP is looking for a little more detail on the error message.  i.e. how does one know that this message means that the module needs to be updated??

[NaN]

I just want to know what these messages mean

To know what this message means won't help you.
Because it means what is says: You try to handle a variable like an object that actually is no object.
Maybe once upon a time it might has been an object but for some reason it is not anymore.

how does one know that this message means that the module needs to be updated??

Because of this:

Notice, these messages arose since CMSMS 1.7.1 is out...

If everything was fine before CMSms 1.7.1 the only logical conclusion would be that something changed in 1.7.1 that causes other modules/plugins to not work anymore.

Since we still don't know what modules/plugins we're talking about no one can help you.

[wdberatung]

A search for this errormessage brings 2 pages results! ;=)

So this is a common problem and not all who asked, got answer or help.

I presume it is a lack of quality checks, modules and tags which are in the download section here should be classified for which CMSMS-Version they are functional....

and please forgive me that I asked ;=)

[jmcgin51]

I presume it is a lack of quality checks, modules and tags which are in the download section here should be classified for which CMSMS-Version they are functional....

Did you install the modules by downloading the xml/tarball from the Forge and uploading manually, or did you install via the Module Manager?  I believe MM only shows modules which are at least nominally compatible with your CMSMS version (doesn't necessarily mean that the developer did a "good" job, but he at least updated the minimum CMSMS version requirement.

[NaN]

A search for this errormessage brings 2 pages results! ;=)

So this is a common problem and not all who asked, got answer or help.

However it is not a common error of the core of CMSms but of certain modules/plugins developed by 3rd party developers. So please talk to the developers of the modules/plugins that cause this error.

And again you do not give any info about what modules or plugins you're talking about.
Saying it is the "published CMSMS modules or plugins" doesn't mean anything since there are loads of modules or plugins "published" in the forge that are maintained by 3rd party developers and might be just created for one particular reason or even for one certain CMSms version.

You cannot expect the core developers to test all 3rd party modules before "publishing" them. This is up to the module/plugin developer itself. If i create a module/plugin that does not work it is my fault not the dev teams.

It would be nice to have such a quality ensurance to make sure only proper working modules are in the download section.
Would you like to do that job?

But i agree, it would be nice to see in the download section what CMSms versions a module/plugin is compatible to before downloading it.

As jmcgin51 said:
The ModuleManager should only show/install modules that should work with your CMSms version.
However even this is no warranty.



Anyway... are you talking about core modules?
(modules that are officially maintained by the CMSms development team and comes with the default CMSms installation)

I don't have that errors so i guess it must be some weird settings of your server or you use modules/plugins that are not compatible with CMSms 1.7.1 anymore.
So please, just give some info about what module/plugin exactly is causing this issue.
Enable debug mode to (maybe) see some more messages/notices/warnings etc.
Otherwise no one can figure out what is going on.

[wdberatung]

one module is "Play"

other module is TinyMCE: I just got this message at my local installation:
"Fatal error: Call to a member function read() on a non-object in G:\00webserver\www\_CMS_CMSmadesimple\cms171\modules\TinyMCE\filepicker.php on line 208"

I installed: downloading from the forge / uploading per FTP / activating in the module list