Value cannot be null. Parameter name: Non-null assertion failure: mFormulaText

[martinmcmillan]

I have recently been using the PBIP format via a GIT repo. After a change in the service, I re-Sync'd my files from the workspace and it keeps coming up with the following error when trying to reopen the file. 

I've reverted to a previous version from the latest change and I'm still seeing the same issue. 

I've also cleared my PBI cache folders. 

Not sure what else to do.

Feedback Type:
Frown (Error)

Timestamp:
2025-04-25T07:56:48.8374273Z

Local Time:
2025-04-25T08:56:48.8374273+01:00

Session ID:
432de883-5b46-48ff-9869-d2f2b298b274

Release:
March 2025

Product Version:
2.141.1253.0 (25.03)+74f9999a1e95f78c739f3ea2b96ba340e9ba8729 (x64)

Error Message:
An error occurred while trying to open 'C:\Users\adm.martin.mcmillan\source\repos\....\'Semantic Model.pbip'. Value cannot be null.
Parameter name: Non-null assertion failure: mFormulaText

Stack Trace:
   at Microsoft.PowerBI.Client.Windows.Storage.FileOpenError.HandleError(IWindowService windowService, LocalizedString title)
   at Microsoft.PowerBI.Client.CommandLineFileService.TryOpenOrCreateReport(IPowerBIWindowService windowService, IExceptionHandler exceptionHandler, Boolean forceCreate)
   at Microsoft.PowerBI.Client.Program.<>c__DisplayClass7_0.<RunApplicationLegacy>b__0()
   at Microsoft.PowerBI.Client.Windows.IExceptionHandlerExtensions.<>c__DisplayClass3_0.<HandleExceptionsWithNestedTasks>b__0()
   at Microsoft.Mashup.Host.Document.ExceptionHandlerExtensions.HandleExceptions(IExceptionHandler exceptionHandler, Action action)

Stack Trace Message:
An error occurred while trying to open 'C:\Users\adm.martin.mcmillan\source\repos\FerryPOC\Ferry Semantic Model.pbip'. Value cannot be null.
Parameter name: Non-null assertion failure: mFormulaText

Invocation Stack Trace:
   at Microsoft.Mashup.Host.Document.ExceptionExtensions.GetCurrentInvocationStackTrace()
   at Microsoft.Mashup.Client.UI.Shared.FeedbackErrorInfo..ctor(String message, Exception exception, Nullable`1 stackTraceInfo, String messageDetail)
   at Microsoft.PowerBI.Client.PowerBIUnexpectedExceptionHandler.HandleKnownExceptions(Exception e)
   at Microsoft.PowerBI.Client.PowerBIUnexpectedExceptionHandler.HandleException(Exception e)
   at Microsoft.Mashup.Host.Document.ExceptionHandlerExtensions.HandleExceptions(IExceptionHandler exceptionHandler, Action action)
   at Microsoft.PowerBI.Client.Program.RunApplicationLegacy(String[] args, IPowerBIRootTrace trace)
   at Microsoft.PowerBI.Client.Program.Main(String[] args)


InnerException0.Stack Trace Message:
Value cannot be null.
Parameter name: Non-null assertion failure: mFormulaText

InnerException0.Stack Trace:
   at Microsoft.PowerBI.Client.Shared.Contracts.FailArgumentNullCore(String msg)
   at Microsoft.PowerBI.Client.Windows.Modeling.Hosting.ModelingQueryBuilder.WithMFormulaText(String mFormulaText)
   at Microsoft.PowerBI.Modeling.Engine.Query.ModelingMashupDocumentGenerator.BuildQuery(IQueryableObject obj, IModelingMashupDocumentBuilder mDocumentBuilder, Func`2 dataSourceTypeGetter, ITelemetryService telemetryService)
   at Microsoft.PowerBI.Modeling.Engine.Query.ModelingMashupDocumentGenerator.BuildQueries(IDataModel dataModel, IModelingMashupDocumentBuilder mDocumentBuilder, Func`2 dataSourceTypeGetter, ITelemetryService telemetryService)
   at Microsoft.PowerBI.Modeling.Engine.Query.ModelingMashupDocumentGenerator.GenerateQueriesFromModel(IDataModel dataModel, IModelingMashupDocumentBuilder mDocumentBuilder, Func`2 dataSourceTypeGetter, ITelemetryService telemetryService)
   at Microsoft.PowerBI.Client.Windows.Modeling.Hosting.ModelingQueriesGenerator.PopulateBuilderFromModel(IDataModel dataModel, QueriesSettings queriesSettings, ITelemetryService telemetryService)
   at Microsoft.PowerBI.Client.Windows.Modeling.Hosting.ModelingQueriesGenerator.GenerateRestorationInputFromModel(IDataModel dataModel, QueriesSettings queriesSettings, IMashupDiscoveryService mashupDiscoveryService, ITelemetryService telemetryService)
   at Microsoft.PowerBI.Client.Windows.Modeling.Hosting.ModelingQueriesGenerator.GenerateAndRestoreQueriesFromModel(Report report, IDataModel dataModel, Boolean restoreQueriesFromModel, ITelemetryService telemetryService)
   at Microsoft.PowerBI.Client.Windows.Services.ReportFactory.<SetAnalysisServicesDatabaseToReport>d__1.MoveNext()
--- End of stack trace from previous location where exception was thrown ---
   at System.Runtime.ExceptionServices.ExceptionDispatchInfo.Throw()
   at System.Runtime.CompilerServices.TaskAwaiter.HandleNonSuccessAndDebuggerNotification(Task task)
   at Microsoft.PowerBI.Client.Windows.Services.BiProjectOperationHandler.<LoadFromProject>d__35.MoveNext()
--- End of stack trace from previous location where exception was thrown ---
   at System.Runtime.ExceptionServices.ExceptionDispatchInfo.Throw()
   at System.Runtime.CompilerServices.TaskAwaiter.HandleNonSuccessAndDebuggerNotification(Task task)
   at Microsoft.PowerBI.Client.Windows.Services.BiProjectOperationHandler.<LoadFromPbip>d__33.MoveNext()
--- End of stack trace from previous location where exception was thrown ---
   at System.Runtime.ExceptionServices.ExceptionDispatchInfo.Throw()
   at System.Runtime.CompilerServices.TaskAwaiter.HandleNonSuccessAndDebuggerNotification(Task task)
   at Microsoft.PowerBI.Client.Windows.Services.BiProjectOperationHandler.<LoadArtifact>d__28.MoveNext()
--- End of stack trace from previous location where exception was thrown ---
   at System.Runtime.ExceptionServices.ExceptionDispatchInfo.Throw()
   at System.Runtime.CompilerServices.TaskAwaiter.HandleNonSuccessAndDebuggerNotification(Task task)
   at Microsoft.PowerBI.Client.Windows.Services.CurrentArtifactManager.<ExecuteAndHandleFileOpenErrors>d__57.MoveNext()

InnerException0.Invocation Stack Trace:
   at Microsoft.Mashup.Host.Document.ExceptionExtensions.GetCurrentInvocationStackTrace()
   at Microsoft.Mashup.Client.UI.Shared.FeedbackErrorInfo.GetFeedbackValuesFromException(Exception e, String prefix)
   at Microsoft.Mashup.Client.UI.Shared.FeedbackErrorInfo.GetFeedbackValuesFromInnerExceptions(Exception e, Int32 depth)
   at Microsoft.Mashup.Client.UI.Shared.FeedbackErrorInfo.CreateAdditionalErrorInfo(Exception e)
   at Microsoft.Mashup.Client.UI.Shared.FeedbackErrorInfo..ctor(String message, Exception exception, Nullable`1 stackTraceInfo, String messageDetail)
   at Microsoft.PowerBI.Client.PowerBIUnexpectedExceptionHandler.HandleKnownExceptions(Exception e)
   at Microsoft.PowerBI.Client.PowerBIUnexpectedExceptionHandler.HandleException(Exception e)
   at Microsoft.Mashup.Host.Document.ExceptionHandlerExtensions.HandleExceptions(IExceptionHandler exceptionHandler, Action action)
   at Microsoft.PowerBI.Client.Program.RunApplicationLegacy(String[] args, IPowerBIRootTrace trace)
   at Microsoft.PowerBI.Client.Program.Main(String[] args)


OS Version:
Microsoft Windows NT 10.0.20348.0 (x64 en-US)

CLR Version:
4.8 or later [Release Number = 528449]

Peak Virtual Memory:
70 GB

Private Memory:
279 MB

Peak Working Set:
421 MB

IE Version:
11.1.20348.0

User ID:
4d1ba516-6182-4b11-8638-924dd36eb809

Telemetry Enabled:
True

PowerBINonFatalError_ErrorCode:
InvalidReportFile

DPI Scale:
100%

Supported Services:
Power BI

[v-pagayam-msft]

Hi @martinmcmillan ,
Could you please confirm if the issue has been resolved on your end? If a solution has been found, it would be greatly appreciated if you could share your insights with the community. This would be helpful for other members who may encounter similar issues.
Thank you for your understanding and assistance.

[v-pagayam-msft]

Hi @martinmcmillan ,
Has the issue been resolved on your end? If so, please share your solution and mark it as "Accept as Solution." This will assist others in the community who are dealing with similar problems and help them find a solution more quickly.
Thank you.

[v-pagayam-msft]

Hi @martinmcmillan ,
Thank you @rajendraongole1 for the prompt response!
I wanted to check and see if you had a chance to review my previous message or Please let me know if everything is sorted or if you need any further assistance.
Thank you.

[rajendraongole1 · Accepted solution]

Hi @martinmcmillan  - 

Check your GIT repo for corrupted or incomplete .m definitions:

Go to YourProjectFolder\DataModel\

Open the affected table folders (each table should have a .m file)

Look for any empty or missing .m files (especially for tables created from Query Editor or manual definitions)

Revert the DataModel and DataModelSchema folders to a working commit:

Even if you reverted the whole project, verify specifically that the *.m files are not null or blank.

Restore from a version that successfully opened before the sync/merge.

Clean and re-clone the repository:

Sometimes your local repo may cache corrupted metadata.

Delete your local repo, then re-clone from the remote, preferably from a known-good commit.

Use Power BI Desktop December 2024 or earlier:

The March 2025 update introduced more aggressive validation and may break loading PBIP projects with minor issues.

Try opening the PBIP with an older version and see if it loads.