ARM64 compile issue

[André Ziegler]

Hi,

I wanted to compile my Xamarin.Forms app as ARM64, but compilation fails. From what I see is that ARM64 uses .Net Native even in Debug mode. Here compilation fails with random error messages.

I only compiled the UWP in debug mode as UWP is only used for debugging the code of XF app and main target is Android app.

Do syncfusion controls support ARM64/.Net Native?

[Yuvaraj Palanisamy]

Hi André Ziegler 

 

Greeting from Syncfusion support. 

 

We would like to inform that the Syncfusion Xamarin controls supports with ARM64 in Xamarin.Forms Android application. Also, we have prepared a sample for your reference. Please find the sample from the below location. 

 

Sample: https://www.syncfusion.com/downloads/support/forum/150500/ze/Sample-85849410  

  

Please let us know if you have any concern. 

 

Regards, 

Yuvaraj

[André Ziegler]

Hi,

I was not clear enough. I talk about compiling UWP project of XF app for ARM64. Here also debug uses .NETNative.

regards
André Ziegler

[André Ziegler]

ok, today I was able compile the UWP app as ARM64, but the app crashes at startup. I need to investigate this more tomorrow

[Yuvaraj Palanisamy]

Hi André Ziegler, 

 

We would like to inform that Syncfusion controls supports ARM 64 in Xamarin.Forms UWP projects. Also, we have prepared a sample for your reference. Please find the sample from the below location. 

 

Sample: https://www.syncfusion.com/downloads/support/forum/150500/ze/Sample-1332026306  

  

Please let us know if you have any concern. 

 

Regards, 

Yuvaraj 

[André Ziegler]

The demo is garbage. WindowsSDKDesktopARM64Support is used for C++ applications.

You need to add a ARM64 configuration:

<PropertyGroup Condition="'$(Configuration)|$(Platform)' == 'Debug|ARM64'">
    <DebugSymbols>true</DebugSymbols>
    <OutputPath>bin\ARM64\Debug\</OutputPath>
    <DefineConstants>DEBUG;TRACE;NETFX_CORE;WINDOWS_UWP;CODE_ANALYSIS</DefineConstants>
    <NoWarn>;2008</NoWarn>
    <NoStdLib>true</NoStdLib>
    <DebugType>full</DebugType>
    <PlatformTarget>ARM64</PlatformTarget>
    <UseVSHostingProcess>false</UseVSHostingProcess>
    <ErrorReport>prompt</ErrorReport>
    <CodeAnalysisRuleSet>MinimumRecommendedRules.ruleset</CodeAnalysisRuleSet>
    <DisableWin2DPlatformCheck>true</DisableWin2DPlatformCheck>
    <Use64Bitcompiler>true</Use64Bitcompiler>
    <SingleThreadNUTC>true</SingleThreadNUTC>
  </PropertyGroup>

when I run the app, it crashes with NULLReferenceException when I set the datasource of a SfDataPager:

System.NullReferenceException: Object reference not set to an instance of an object.
   at Syncfusion.SfDataGrid.XForms.GridColumnSizer.GetHeaderCellWidth(GridColumn) + 0x1a4
   at Syncfusion.SfDataGrid.XForms.GridColumnSizer.CalculateHeaderWidth(GridColumn, Boolean) + 0x44
   at Syncfusion.SfDataGrid.XForms.GridColumnSizer.GetColumnAutoSizeWidth(GridColumn) + 0x4c
   at Syncfusion.SfDataGrid.XForms.GridColumnSizer.SetColumnWidthBasedOnGridColumnSizer(Double, List`1, GridColumn, Double) + 0x26c
   at Syncfusion.SfDataGrid.XForms.GridColumnSizer.CalculateColumnSizerWidth(Double) + 0xeac
   at Syncfusion.SfDataGrid.XForms.GridColumnSizer.Refresh(Double) + 0x94
   at Syncfusion.SfDataGrid.XForms.GridColumnSizer.Refresh(Boolean) + 0x190
   at Syncfusion.SfDataGrid.XForms.SfDataGrid.OnItemsSourceChanged(BindableObject, Object, Object) + 0xa18
   at Xamarin.Forms.BindableProperty.BindingPropertyChangedDelegate.InvokeOpenStaticThunk(BindableObject, Object, Object) + 0x9c
   at Xamarin.Forms.BindableProperty.BindingPropertyChangedDelegate.Invoke(BindableObject, Object, Object) + 0xb4
   at Xamarin.Forms.BindableObject.SetValueActual(BindableProperty, BindableObject.BindablePropertyContext, Object, Boolean, SetValueFlags, Boolean) + 0x450
   at Xamarin.Forms.BindableObject.SetValueCore(BindableProperty, Object, SetValueFlags, BindableObject.SetValuePrivateFlags) + 0x5f8
   at Xamarin.Forms.BindableObject.SetValue(BindableProperty, Object, Boolean, Boolean) + 0x1a8
   at Xamarin.Forms.BindableObject.SetValue(BindableProperty, Object) + 0x40
   at Syncfusion.SfDataGrid.XForms.SfDataGrid.set_ItemsSource(Object) + 0x5c

I'll analyze this more.

[Pradeep Kumar Balakrishnan]

HI André Ziegler, 

 

Thank you for the update. 

 

Currently, we are checking ARM64 support for Syncfusion controls in Xamarin.Forms.UWP. while analysing we have found that there is a bug report in Xamarin forms uwp in ARM64 settings. we will update further details in three business days January 22,2019. We appreciate your patience until then. Also please provide tested device details. 

 

Regards, 

Pradeep Kumar B 

[André Ziegler]

I'm aware of this github ticket and I have already installed the Win2D.uwp 1.24.0 package to the UWP part of the XF apps.

[André Ziegler]

The app crashes while setting the data source of the grid. Here I always get a NullReferenceException no matter if I use SfDataPager or not.

You can repro this by enabling .net native for x86 debug and try to debug the x86 app.

 

For ARM64 .net native is used in debug and release mode for UWP apps.

[Karthikraja Kalaimani]

Hi Andre,

Thank you for your update.

As we said we earlier we will update for ARM64 issue on 22^nd Jan 2019. And we will update further details for the issue “Application crashed by enabling .Net Native for X86 debug” also on 22^nd Jan 2019.

We appreciate your patience until then.

Regards, 

Karthik Raja 

[Karthikraja Kalaimani]

Hi Andre,

Thank you for patience,

We have checked  the reported issue “SfDataGrid crash in x86” in our latest source attach. Unfortunately issue not reproduced in source attach. We have attached the tested video for your reference. Currently We are implementing some codes in null possibilities area to check the issue in nuget and we will update you the details on 24^th Jan 2020.

Video link : https://www.syncfusion.com/downloads/support/directtrac/general/ze/Video_Reference_1505002107897692.zip

Please let us know which Xamarin Forms version your using?

Regards,
Karthik Raja 

[André Ziegler]

Compile works now, it was caused by enabling incremental .net native support (UseDotNetNativeIncremental) which I now removed from ARM64 configuration, but the app crashes at runtime.

I use AutoGenerateColumns

                                AutoGenerateColumns="true" NavigationMode="Cell"
                                ColumnSizer="Auto"
                                SelectionMode="Single"
                                VerticalOverScrollMode="None">

I use latest XF 4.4.0.991537. And I set source via

DataPager.Source = list;
DataGrid.ItemsSource = DataPager.PagedSource;

[Karthikraja Kalaimani]

Hi Andre,

Thank you for your update.

Issue 1 : “Compilation fails in ARM64”

We are glad to know that the reported problem has been resolved at your end.

Issue 2 : “App crashes at runtime in UWP“

We have checked the reported issue with Xamarin Forms v4.4.0.991537  and we are unable to reproduce the issue in our end. We have attached the tested sample for your reference.

Sample link : https://www.syncfusion.com/downloads/support/directtrac/general/ze/DataGridDemo2_150500-1243736447.zip


Please let us know the following details

 i) What type of collections your bounded to SfDataPager.

ii) When you are setting the collection to SfDataPager.

iii) SfDataGrid Version

Regards,
Karthik Raja  

[André Ziegler]

I use version 17.4.0.44 of SfDataGrid. I'll check the demo next monday

[Farjana Parveen Ayubb]

Hi Andre, 

 

Thank you for your update. 

 

We have tested the application in your Syncfusion version (17.4.0.44), but the issue is not reproduced. We will wait to hear from you. 

 

Regards, 

Farjana Parveen A 

[André Ziegler]

Your demo works, also as ARM64, but the pager is not working at all.

My app always crashes, but inside your code, that I can't debug. Add some null checks and post via Debug.WriteLine() which value is NULL, so that I can tell you which value is NULL for me.

[Karthikraja Kalaimani]

Hi Andre,

We have added some code null possibilities area in the below attached sample. So please run the application and update the output log and call stack details. 

 

Sample link : https://www.syncfusion.com/downloads/support/directtrac/general/ze/Modified_Debug1929630261.zip


Regards,
Karthik Raja 

[André Ziegler]

Your app works again in ARM64 on Win10 Pro ARM64 1909, but this doesn't help me. I need a debug version of sfdatagrid to see why it crashes.

My datatypes have nullable types and some are empty, in your demo, all data have value. Maybe this is the difference.

[Karthikraja Kalaimani]

Hi Andre, 

Thank you for the update, 

We have checked with nullable value to OrderID column and Freight Column in the SfDataGrid. Unfortunately, we are unable to replicate the issue in this case also. So could you please check the sample and modify the sample based on your scenario or share your project to this mail id [e-mail] we will maintain the confidentiality and get back to you at the earliest.  

Sample link : https://www.syncfusion.com/downloads/support/directtrac/general/ze/Modified_With_Nullable-990066727.zip 

Regards,
Karthik Raja

 

[André Ziegler]

Your demo works again as ARM64.

I can't share the project, In my model I have public Nullable and several public virtual TYPE NavigationProperty { get; set; } entries. Those where generated from EF6 T4 script.

// Edit:

I also hide columns  AutoGeneratingColumn="DataGrid_AutoGeneratingColumn" private void DataGrid_AutoGeneratingColumn(object sender, AutoGeneratingColumnEventArgs e), here I hide ID columns and other entries that I don't need in grid.

[André Ziegler]

Today my at doesn't even start, now I get System.Reflection.MissingMetadataException

Exception thrown: 'System.Reflection.MissingMetadataException' in System.Private.Interop.dll
Windows.Foundation.IReference`1

From what I understand this is the Nullable translated to .net native. But no matter what I add to the rd.xml of my app it now crashes all time at start and no longer at time of assigning the datasource to the grid.

I tried to add the generated output from this generator

<Type Name="Windows.Foundation.IReference`1{Double}" Dynamic="Required All" />

like suggested from Microsoft but this also doesn't fix it.

[Karthikraja Kalaimani]

Hi Andre,

Thank you for the update.


We have created a new incident under your Direct trac account to follow up with this query. We suggest you to follow up with the incident for further updates. Please log in using the below link. 

 

https://www.syncfusion.com/account/login

 

Regards,
Karthik Raja 

[André Ziegler]

I finally fixed it. The Release mode issue in UWP platform entry in Getting Started is incomplete.

I included both lines, but that was NOT enough.

I see that the SfDataGrid has the dependency Syncfusion.Xamarin.SfComboBox, so I needed to add this line:

assembliesToInclude.Add(typeof(Syncfusion.XForms.UWP.ComboBox.SfComboBoxRenderer).GetTypeInfo().Assembly);

Now the app runs fine in Debug and Release mode for ARM64, because unlike x86/x64 for ARM configurations, .NET Native is used even in debug!!!!

So, you need to update the documentation and check all dependencies and update the codelines. Your demo did not trigger the load of SfComboBox, while my app does it, even if I don't use a Combobox, maybe this is triggered from my model as I use public virtual TYPE PropertyName { get; set; }. And because the the Combobox is not loaded I get NullReferenceException.

[Karthikraja Kalaimani]

Hi Andre,

Thank you for the update.

We are glad to know that the reported problem “NullReference Exception thrown in SfDataGrid” has been resolved at your end and we have modified our documentation of SfDataGrid and that changes will come live on tomorrow.

Regards,
Karthik Raja 

[Farjana Parveen Ayubb]

Hi Andre, 

 

The changes are coming into live, please check the below UG link, 

 

https://help.syncfusion.com/xamarin/datagrid/getting-started#release-mode-issue-in-uwp-platform 

 

Regards, 

Farjana Parveen A 

[André Ziegler]

Thanks, I can see it, but the documentation is still bad.

The issue is not Release mode, it is the used .Net Native compilation, which is automatically done in Release mode!

.NET Native is a precompilation technology for building and deploying Windows apps that is included with Visual Studio 2015 and later versions. It automatically compiles the release version of apps that are written in managed code (C# or Visual Basic) and that target the .NET Framework and Windows 10 to native code.

Typically, apps that target the .NET Framework are compiled to intermediate language (IL). At run time, the just-in-time (JIT) compiler translates the IL to native code. In contrast, .NET Native compiles Windows apps directly to native code.

But in ARM64, this .Net Native is also used in Debug Configuration! This is because .net core is currently not supported for ARM64.

So update the doc to reflect that the usage of .NET Native cause it and not only Release, here it is automatically used. And also mention the .Net Native usage for ARM64 configuration, so that other developers notice this.

[Farjana Parveen Ayubb]

Hi Andre, 

 

We will update about .NET Native Tool Chain issue in our documentation before today EOD (19^th February 2020). By default .NET Native Tool Chain is enabled only in Release mode. So, we documented targeting release mode before. 

 

Regarding ARM64 with .NET Native Tool Chain is a framework issue: it a framework issue. So, we didn’t documented in our user guide. 

 

Regards, 

Farjana Parveen A 

[Karthikraja Kalaimani]

Hi Andre,  

  

The changes are in live now, please check the below UG link,  

  

https://help.syncfusion.com/xamarin/datagrid/getting-started#release-mode-issue-in-uwp-platform  

  

Regards,  

Karthik Raja 

[André Ziegler]

It is still not really 100% well written, but a bit better now.

[Karthikraja Kalaimani]

Hi Andre,

The ARM64 with .NET Native Tool Chain is a framework issue. So, we didn’t documented in our user guide.  But we have documented about .Net Native Compilation issue in our UG.

Regards,
Karthik Raja