NPC - "Tried to use a NULL entity!"

[austin1346]

I have an NPC that I'm making for my server, here is the code so far

init_npc_info.lua

local model = "models/player/Group01/Male_0" .. math.random( 1, 9 ) .. ".mdl"
local classname = "npc_info"
local ShouldSetOwner = true

-------------------------------
AddCSLuaFile( "cl_npc_info.lua" )
AddCSLuaFile( "sh_npc_info.lua" )
include( 'sh_npc_info.lua' )
-------------------------------

--------------------
-- Spawn Function --
--------------------
function ENT:SpawnFunction( ply, tr )

	if ( !tr.Hit ) then return end

	local SpawnPos = tr.HitPos + tr.HitNormal * 25;

	local ent = ents.Create( classname )
	ent:SetPos( SpawnPos )
	ent:Spawn()
	ent:Activate()
	if ShouldSetOwner then
		ent.Owner = ply
	end

	return ent
	
end

----------------
-- Initialize --
----------------
function ENT:Initialize()
	
	self:SetModel( model )
	self:SetHullType( HULL_HUMAN )
	self:SetHullSizeNormal()
	self:SetNPCState( NPC_STATE_SCRIPT )
	self:SetSolid( SOLID_BBOX )
	self:CapabilitiesAdd( CAP_ANIMATEDFACE )
	self:SetUseType( SIMPLE_USE )
	self:DropToFloor()

end

------------
-- On use --
------------
function ENT:AcceptInput( name, activator, caller )

	if name == "Use" and caller:IsPlayer() and IsValid( caller ) then
		activator:SendLua( [[ chat.AddText( Color( 30, 139, 195 ), "[Server] ", Color( 228, 241, 254 ), "You activated the NPC" ]] )
	end

end

cl_npc_info.lua

include('sh_npc_info.lua')

function ENT:Initialize()

	self.AutomaticFrameAdvance = true;

end

function ENT:Draw()
	
	self.Entity:DrawModel()

end

sh_npc_info.lua

ENT.Type = "anim"
ENT.Base = "base_ai"
ENT.PrintName = "Info NPC"
ENT.Author = "Austin"
ENT.Purpose = "NPC for displaying information to the player about the server"
ENT.Spawnable = true
ENT.SetAutomaticFrameAdvance = true
ENT.AdminSpawnable = true
ENT.Category = "test NPC's"

Doesn't even show up in the spawn menu under entities

Here is the error when i try to spawn it via chat command

[ERROR] gamemodes/x/gamemode/structure/chatcommands/sv_chatcommands.lua:120: Tried to use a NULL entity!
  1. SetPos - [C]:-1
   2. v - gamemodes/x/gamemode/structure/chatcommands/sv_chatcommands.lua:120
    3. unknown - gamemodes/x/gamemode/structure/chatcommands/sv_chatcommands.lua:13

If you need any more info please do ask, thank you.\

EDIT: Here is the code that spawns the entity (im using an API that I found, and no it's not creating the error.

RegisterChatCommand("/npc", function( ply, args )
	
	local ent = ents.Create( "npc_info" )
	ent:SetPos( ply:GetPos() )
	ent:Spawn()
	ent:Activate()

end)

[Sir TE5T]

uhh yes it is

[MysteryPancake]

Could you post the RegisterChatCommand function please?

Or, try replacing the bit of code where you use that function with this:

hook.Add( 'PlayerSay', 'SOME_UNIQUE_NAME', function( ply, txt, team )
    if txt == '/npc' then
	local ent = ents.Create( "npc_info" )
	ent:SetPos( ply:GetPos() )
	ent:Spawn()
	ent:Activate()
    end
end )

I know you said that function wasn't creating the problem, but I think it might be...

[austin1346]

If the problem is outside of the entity, why is it not even showing up in the spawn menu? When I get home I'll show the register chat command function, but I'm almost certain thats not the problem. Also if I change the class name of the box in the chat command it works fine.

[GGG KILLER]

[QUOTE=Austin1346;49711835]If the problem is outside of the entity, why is it not even showing up in the spawn menu? When I get home I'll show the register chat command function, but I'm almost certain thats not the problem. Also if I change the class name of the box in the chat command it works fine.[/QUOTE]

Where did you put those files?

[austin1346]

[QUOTE=Sir TE5T;49710540]uhh yes it is[/QUOTE]

What makes you think it's the API that is creating the error? Is it because the error tells you the path of where it's located?

[QUOTE=GGG KILLER;49712019]Where did you put those files?[/QUOTE]

In mygamemode/entities/entities/npc_info

[GGG KILLER]

[QUOTE=Austin1346;49712037]What makes you think it's the API that is creating the error? Is it because the error tells you the path of where it's located?[/QUOTE]
What makes us think that is because the "NULL" entity is when ents.Create fails and because of the path mentioned.

[austin1346]

If you're implying that the API is the problem, why does the entity not show up in the spawn menu under entities?

[Zeh Matt]

Rename them to init.lua and cl_init.lua

[austin1346]

[QUOTE=Zeh Matt;49713812]Rename them to init.lua and cl_init.lua[/QUOTE]

Thanks a ton, this fixed it. I forgot that if i wanted to make a custom name for them that i would have to AddCSLuaFile and include them from another file that's already loaded.

Aside that, I've ran into another problem. I'm still using the same code in the op, and I get this error when trying to spawn it in the Q menu.
[QUOTE][ERROR] gamemodes/x/entities/entities/npc_info/init.lua:38: attempt to call method 'SetHullType' (a nil value)
1. unknown - gamemodes/x/entities/entities/npc_info/init.lua:38
2. Spawn - [C]:-1
3. SpawnFunction - gamemodes/x/entities/entities/npc_info/init.lua:22
4. Spawn_SENT - gamemodes/sandbox/gamemode/commands.lua:610
5. unknown - gamemodes/sandbox/gamemode/commands.lua:675
6. unknown - lua/includes/modules/concommand.lua:54[/QUOTE]

In the case that anyone is lazy, here is the ENT:Intialize func
[LUA]function ENT:Initialize()

self:SetModel( model )
self:SetHullType( HULL_HUMAN )
self:SetHullSizeNormal()
self:SetNPCState( NPC_STATE_SCRIPT )
self:SetSolid( SOLID_BBOX )
self:CapabilitiesAdd( CAP_ANIMATEDFACE )
self:SetUseType( SIMPLE_USE )
self:DropToFloor()

end[/LUA]