PATCH instruction returns HTTP 500 code with message ""message": "Object reference not set to an instance of an object.""

Question

I'm trying to update some properties of contact entity in Dynamics CRM 365.

I'm using the Web API and send my updates to :

http://<URI>/api/data/v8.0/contacts(a29d23c0-f75a-e611-80c4-0050568deb29)

For example :

Headers :

content-type: application/json
accept: application/json
OData-MaxVersion: 4.0
OData-Version: 4.0
Authorization: 'the token'

Body:
    {
     "address1_city": "new city",
     "address1_country": "new country",
    }

However when I perform this request, I receive:

{"error":{"code":"0x0","message":"Object reference not set to an instance of an object.","innererror":{"message":"Object reference not set to an instance of an object.","type":"System.NullReferenceException","stacktrace":" at Microsoft.Crm.Extensibility.OData.CrmODataUtilities.ValidatePatchInputProperties(EdmEntityObject entityDelta, CrmODataExecutionContext crmODataExecutionContext)\r\n at Microsoft.Crm.Extensibility.OData.EntityController.PatchEntityImplementation(String& entityName, String key, EdmEntityObject entityDelta)\r\n at Microsoft.PowerApps.CoreFramework.ActivityLoggerExtensions.Execute[TResult](ILogger logger, EventId eventId, ActivityType activityType, Func`1 func, IEnumerable`1 additionalCustomProperties)\r\n at Microsoft.Xrm.Telemetry.XrmTelemetryExtensions.Execute[TResult](ILogger logger, XrmTelemetryActivityType activityType, Func`1 func)\r\n at lambda_method(Closure , Object , Object[] )\r\n at System.Web.Http.Controllers.ReflectedHttpActionDescriptor.ActionExecutor.<>c__DisplayClass10.b__9(Object instance, Object[] methodParameters)\r\n at System.Web.Http.Controllers.ReflectedHttpActionDescriptor.ExecuteAsync(HttpControllerContext controllerContext, IDictionary`2 arguments, CancellationToken cancellationToken)\r\n--- End of stack trace from previous location where exception was thrown ---\r\n at System.Runtime.ExceptionServices.ExceptionDispatchInfo.Throw()\r\n at System.Runtime.CompilerServices.TaskAwaiter.HandleNonSuccessAndDebuggerNotification(Task task)\r\n at System.Web.Http.Controllers.ApiControllerActionInvoker.d__0.MoveNext()\r\n--- End of stack trace from previous location where exception was thrown ---\r\n at System.Runtime.ExceptionServices.ExceptionDispatchInfo.Throw()\r\n at System.Runtime.CompilerServices.TaskAwaiter.HandleNonSuccessAndDebuggerNotification(Task task)\r\n at System.Web.Http.Controllers.ActionFilterResult.d__2.MoveNext()\r\n--- End of stack trace from previous location where exception was thrown ---\r\n at System.Runtime.ExceptionServices.ExceptionDispatchInfo.Throw()\r\n at System.Runtime.CompilerServices.TaskAwaiter.HandleNonSuccessAndDebuggerNotification(Task task)\r\n at System.Web.Http.Dispatcher.HttpControllerDispatcher.d__1.MoveNext()"}}}

Nick Nick · Accepted Answer · 2018-09-06T21:51:14

Here's a working sample in powershell. My headers are a bit different and I'm using the endpoint on v8.2:

$headers = @{
"Content-Type"="application/json; charset=utf-8";
"OData-MaxVersion"="4.0";
"OData-Version"="4.0";
};

$body = @{
    "address1_city"="new city";
    "address1_country"="new country";
};

$json = ConvertTo-Json $body;

$result = Invoke-WebRequest -Uri "$serverurl/api/data/v8.2/contacts(66B652BF-06AB-E811-80EE-005056935BD6)" -Method PATCH -Headers $headers -Body $json -UseDefaultCredentials;

Write-Host $result.StatusCode;

PATCH instruction returns HTTP 500 code with message ""message": "Object reference not set to an instance of an object.""

1 Answers