You may receive an "Object reference not set to an instance of an object" error message when you try to edit a site group in SharePoint Portal Server 2003 (827392)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Office SharePoint Portal Server 2003
  • Microsoft Windows SharePoint Services

SYMPTOMS

When you try to log on to SharePoint Portal Server 2003 as a user who has Reader permissions, you may receive the following error message:
Access Denied
When you try to edit the site group on the Manage Site Groups page, you may receive the following error message:
Object reference not set to an instance of an object

CAUSE

This problem may occur if you deleted a site group by using the Manage Security Settings for Area Sites page (Spcatsec.apsx) on the portal site. When you do so, an incorrect row is deleted from the database, and the database is rendered in an inconsistent state. The site group is deleted in SharePoint Portal Server but it is not deleted in Windows SharePoint Services, and the site group remains displayed on the Manage Site Groups page (Role.aspx). As a result, you cannot edit the site group and users who are members of the deleted site group cannot log on to the portal site.

WORKAROUND

To work around this problem, delete, and then re-create the site group by using the Manage Site Groups page (Role.aspx). To do so, follow these steps:
  1. Delete the site group. To do so, follow these steps:
    1. On the Site Settings page for the portal site, in the General Settings area, click Manage security and additional settings.
    2. On the Manage security and additional settings page, in the Users and Permissions area, click Manage site groups.
    3. On the Manage Site Groups page, click to select the check box next to the site group that you want to delete.
    4. Click Delete Selected Site Groups, and then click OK.
  2. Re-create the site group. To do so, follow these steps:
    1. On the Manage security and additional settings page, in the Users and Permissions area, click Manage site groups.
    2. On the Manage Site Groups page, click Add a Site Group.
    3. On the Create Site Group page, in the Site Group Name and Description area, type a name for the site group in the Site group name box, and then type a description for the site group in the Description box.
    4. In the Rights area, click the rights that you want for the site group, and then click OK.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed at the beginning of this article.

MORE INFORMATION

SharePoint Portal Server uses site groups to manage security for portal sites. Each user is a member of at least one site group. Each site group has corresponding rights that specify the actions that users can perform. The default SharePoint Portal Server site groups are listed as follows:
  • Reader: Has read-only access to the Web site.
  • Member: Can view and personalize portal site content and create sites.
  • Contributor: Can add content to existing document libraries and lists.
  • Web Designer: Can create lists and document libraries and customize pages in the Web site.
  • Administrator: Has full control of the Web site.
  • Content Manager: Can create and manage areas, lists, libraries, and sites.
For more information about how to manage site groups in SharePoint Portal Server, see the "Portal and Site Security" topic in the "Security" section of the Microsoft Office SharePoint Portal Server 2003 Administration Guide. The Microsoft Office SharePoint Portal Server 2003 Administration Guide (Administrator's Help.chm) is located in the Docs folder in the root of the SharePoint Portal Server 2003 CD.

For more information about SharePoint Portal Server and Windows SharePoint Services, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

http://www.microsoft.com/sharepoint/default.asp

Modification Type:MinorLast Reviewed:1/9/2006
Keywords:kbpermissions kberrmsg kbpending kbBug KB827392 kbAudITPRO
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