Just updated to stables and now I cannot get a good build of my iOS solution. The same source works fine on Xam Studio 5.8.3, it's something with the new stables today. The error is:
/Library/Frameworks/Mono.framework/External/xbuild/Xamarin/iOS/Xamarin.iOS.Common.targets: Error: Error executing tool '/Applications/Xcode.app/Contents/Developer/usr/bin/ibtool': Argument cannot be null.
Parameter name: unformatted (APDL.iOS)
Any suggestions?
Thanks
Posts
Another solution builds, older version builds, looks like something with a Storyboard I'm guessing.
You might be able to get more information from the build log if you increase logging verbosity to "diagnostic":
http://forums.xamarin.com/discussion/27515/how-to-obtain-diagnostic-build-logs
Thanks @jstedfast I did try that prior to my post, no difference. Any change in build or build tools from pre 5.9? Seems like it doesn't like a XIB or Storyboard. 5.8.3 compiles it fine.
@NealCuliner set the deployment target to 8.0 or higher.
*Not a good solution if you're trying to support iPhone 4 or those who don't upgrade their iPhone 4s
Just had the same problem. Worked around it by removing the "Use Size Classes" check from the storyboard. (not sure why this would cause the problem first place, but managed to get the simulator working again)
Having the same issue just now after upgrade to 5.9. Changing target to 8.0 works, but is not a solution in my case.
Upgrading Xcode 6.3.1 makes the build succeed but leaves me with the following:
Only real option seems to be downgrading both Xamarin and Xcode.
Possibly related issues:
http://forums.xamarin.com/discussion/37910/autolayout-and-size-classes-causing-nibs-to-not-be-created
http://forums.xamarin.com/discussion/35673/visual-studio-could-not-find-a-storyboard-named-in-bundle-nsbundle
Hi,
Have same problem after update, any suggestions?
With storyboards everything is ok and executing tool is passed ok
It fails on xib files
Here is my build log where it fails:
Tool /Applications/Xcode.app/Contents/Developer/usr/bin/ibtool execution started with arguments: --errors --warnings --notices --output-format xml1 --minimum-deployment-target 7.1 --target-device ipad --auto-activate-custom-fonts --sdk /Applications/Xcode.app/Contents/Developer/Platforms/iPhoneSimulator.platform/Developer/SDKs/iPhoneSimulator8.3.sdk --compilation-directory /Users/dmytrochumachenko/Projects/AMS/iAMS/obj/iPhoneSimulator/Debug/ibtool /Users/dmytrochumachenko/Projects/AMS/iAMS/Views/AuditItemTableViewCell.xib
/Library/Frameworks/Mono.framework/External/xbuild/Xamarin/iOS/Xamarin.iOS.Common.targets: error : Error executing tool '/Applications/Xcode.app/Contents/Developer/usr/bin/ibtool': Argument cannot be null.
Parameter name: unformatted
Task "IBTool" execution -- FAILED
Thanks in advance
For me changing target to 8.0 doesn't work
Fixed constraints conflicts to avoid this issue.
Had the same problem. Fixed it by opening my storyboard in Xcode and repair the mentioned problems. Ambiguous constraints and such things.
I have just experienced the same issue, updating targets to 8.0 didn't work - and I had Use Size Classes turned off..
Just reverting to 5.8.3 for now. From diagnostics it seemed like it wasn't picking up Storyboards anymore.
My app's min version is 8.1, I opened all storyboards and they are all using the default xcode version, none have sizing classes checked. A few XIB files had the xcode version back at 4, I changed them to default, problem remains.
Is there any way to get more diagnostic information from the IBTOOL's build?
What I am finding strange is I have Xcode 6.3.1 installed. In the Storyboard the "opens in" shows Default (6.2) as if the IB doesn't recognize Xcode 6.3.x?
Narrowed it down to a segue in a storyboard I'm actually not using any more so the fix was to delete the bad storyboard. Odd that this compiled in 5.8.3 but not in 5.9 - back to work...
Xcode 6.3 changed the ibtool command needed to compile xibs and storyboards to use --compilation-directory instead of --compile and also now requires --target-device for each device listed in the Info.plist (iphone, ipad).
This is used, I think, mostly for Size Classes in storyboards. If you downgrade back to Xcode 6.2 or earlier, the xbuild logic uses the old ibtool command.
(FWIW, this logic all lives inside Xamarin.iOS and not Xamarin Studio)
I've been battling this for the last day, I have 3 Xamarin iOS projects which it is affecting, it looks like a storyboard issue, but even the smallest/simplist project doesn't build consistently without the error.
It appears to be an issue with Xamarin.iOS 8.10, downgrading to 8.9.1 has resolved my issues, I'll keep an eye out for the next update but I've tried everything suggested here and more with little luck.
From what I can tell, it doesn't matter if I'm using Xcode 6.2 or 6.3, I was using the latter before this issue arose and tried downgrading that too, but have since tried both with Xamarin.iOS 8.9.1 and its working fine.
So I had the same error after upgrading Xamarin Studio from 5.8.3 to 5.9:
/Library/Frameworks/Mono.framework/External/xbuild/Xamarin/iOS/Xamarin.iOS.Common.targets: Error: Error executing tool '/Applications/Xcode.app/Contents/Developer/usr/bin/ibtool': Argument cannot be null. Parameter name: unformatted
What worked for me to ged rid of above error was to update all my *.storyboard files (_by opening them in XCode Interface Builder, not in XS_) and set their property "Builds for" to "iOS 8.0 and Later". I also made sure that the checkbox "Use Size Classes" was unchecked.
See on SO: http://stackoverflow.com/questions/25398312/automatic-preferred-max-layout-width-is-not-available-on-ios-versions-prior-to-8
Mine were already set as that (Default 6.2) with Xcode 6.3 - it is an issue supposedly with a change in Xcode 6.3 and the IBTOOL. Our case was something with a segue and as we didn't need that storyboard we removed it but that doesn't solve the underlying problem but we're back in action at least.
Isn't the constantly changing technology great??? I don't want to ever update anything ever again!
And my iOS devices would never slow down with the Apple "old device killer secret code" too 
What a mess. I cannot compile my projects anymore. Everything was fine before i upgraded Xamarin. Xcode is not upgraded and is stil 6.3. How can i downgrade Xamarin and Xamarin.iOS to make it work again?
ps. the workarounds don't work. The storyboard files from my XS project won't even open in Xcode, it crashes right away!
I tried downgrading everything, nothing works.
I had to recreate the entire storyboard from scratch before it finally builds again
This is why your build was failing, most likely... something was terribly wrong with your storyboard making it so that ibtool was failing.
**Serious issues with this release **
UPDATE: Removing <CodesignEntitlements>Entitlements.plist</CodesignEntitlements> from iOS project immediately did it for me I can now see devices in Visual Studio dropdown
Hi guys, any news?
I'm not sure if I can upgrade the Xamarin.iOS again to 8.10 as with 8.10 cannot build the projects.
I have no time right now to check, sorry for asking.
The Xamarin Studio and XCode is up to date. Xamarin.iOS is still downgraded (8.9.1)
Hi,
I had the same issue with the ibtool.
I am heavily using Size Classes and disabling it is not an option for multiple devs working on the same app.
I tried running the build as it was with target: iPhone 4S, iOS 8.2 and it gave me this error at first:
/Applications/Xcode.app/Contents/Developer/usr/bin/ibtool': Argument cannot be null.
Parameter name: unformatted (...)
The I tried to run the same project using target iPhone 5... (I think any iOS version will do).
The project started in the simulator.
Then I reverted back to iPhone 4S, iOS 8.2 and it worked fine. It did not complain anymore.
So, deactivating Size Classes does not seem to be necessary. Any thoughts?
Here is my configuration:
+ Xamarin Studio Version 5.9 (build 431)
+ Xamarin.iOS Version: 8.10.0.267 (Indie Edition)
+ Xcode 6.2 (6C131e)
@MarianBrostean the bug is already fixed and will be going out as part of Xamarin.iOS 8.10.1. The problem was with a logging call which passed null as the format string when ibtool spewed errors to the console.
@jstedfast Could you please let me know when new update(Xamarin.iOS 8.10.1) is available for downloading ..... i am not able to complie my source code due to this issue.
If you enable diagnostic logging, it will print the ibtool command it is using to compile each of the xibs/storyboards.
Simply copy & paste the the command for the failing xib/storyboard into your Terminal window and see what errors ibtool is printing. Fix those, and then it will compile in XS just fine.
Hello @jstedfast ,
It would be nice to hear when the update will be released. On behave of the date we will decide if we going to infest time in this issue or wait for the update.
Kind regarts
I too am having this problem and NONE of the suggestions have worked. It is very important Xamarin keep us informed of when a fix for this will be in the stable channel. At the moment this downtime is costing me money in terms of lost productivity.
@jstedfast. Can we please have an indication when the fix will be available for stable channel. This has caused my project to lose 1.5 days. The company I work for is a small startup who cannot afford to lose that much time. Xamarin needs to realise that companies are putting an awful lot of faith in them to not issue bad / poor updates.
Try this build of Xamarin.iOS: http://storage.bos.internalx.com/macios-mac-macios-cycle5/f6/f6bfa6e104ce3f5a6e90f990deb176c818be2cd6/monotouch-8.10.1.37.pkg
Hello,
I have the similar problem, and you iOS pkg doesn't work...
"doesn't work" how? I need more information than just "didn't work".
What error are you getting? When? Where?
ok sorry about that.
When I build my iOS project this is my log crash;
/Library/Frameworks/Mono.framework/External/xbuild/Xamarin/iOS/Xamarin.iOS.Common.targets: Error: Error executing tool '/Applications/Xcode.app/Contents/Developer/usr/bin/ibtool': Argument cannot be null. Parameter name: unformatted
ok, my problem come from my Storyboard. I can't open it in Xamarin studio but still in Xcode. How can I fixe my storyboard for Xamarin?
Try this build to solve the build error: http://storage.bos.internalx.com/macios-mac-macios-cycle5/13/134f5c041d9d603fea5f5d5aa72f461f17cd7a42/monotouch-8.10.1.45.pkg
I update monotouch with your, now my project build without error but at the start I have this error:
Object reference not set to an instance of an object
. I have a break point in my appDelegate but crash before./Users/[email protected]/Documents/D-Realise_App/Radio_Scoop/RadioScoop.iOS/MainStoryboard_iPhone.storyboard: Warning: /Applications/Xcode.app/Contents/Developer/usr/bin/ibtool: 2015-05-09 14:16:41.751 Interface Builder Cocoa Touch Tool[50483:828561] ***createStorageTaskManagerForPath:withIdentifier failed: Error Domain=NSCocoaErrorDomain Code=4099 "The operation couldn’t be completed. (Cocoa error 4099.)" (The connection to service named com.apple.nsurlstorage-cache was invalidated.) UserInfo=0x7f8be2f28090 {NSDebugDescription=The connection to service named
/Users/[email protected]/Documents/D-Realise_App/Radio_Scoop/RadioScoop.iOS/MainStoryboard_iPhone.storyboard: Warning: /Applications/Xcode.app/Contents/Developer/usr/bin/ibtool: nwi_state: registration failed (1000000) (RadioScoop.iOS)
A different approach - Did you perhaps copy and paste an image view or other element from one view controller to another in designer view, which contained constraints? I did - and experienced this error. I deleted the copy of image view, then added a fresh one from the toolbox, and added fresh constraints. Then the build worked.