Question

I created a vs solution with :

1. 2 Site columns
2. One content type
3. One list template
4. One list instance.

It compiles without any problem.
The feature packages all 4 things, IsHidden is set to true because its meant to be enabled via powershell only.

However when I enable it, i got the following exceptions in the log

Enable-SPFeature : Key cannot be null.
Parameter name: key
At line:28 char:17
+ Enable-SPFeature <<<<  "SlnOneSkyTeamsCustomization_FeatureExternalCIRCASites" -Url http://ost-dev1.ciredev1.local/
    + CategoryInfo          : InvalidData: (Microsoft.Share...etEnableFeature:SPCmdletEnableFeature) [Enable-SPFeature], ArgumentNullException
    + FullyQualifiedErrorId : Microsoft.SharePoint.PowerShell.SPCmdletEnableFeature

I install the feature like this:

# Adds and Installs the SP Solution 
Add-SPSolution -LiteralPath "D:\Sources\s\27022012\SlnOneSkyTeamsCustomization\SlnOneSkyTeamsCustomization\bin\Debug\SlnOneSkyTeamsCustomization.wsp"
Install-SPSolution –Identity SlnOneSkyTeamsCustomization.wsp -GACDeployment -Force 

# Install-SPFeature use it only after installing or upgrading the solution
Install-SPFeature "SlnOneSkyTeamsCustomization_FeatureExternalCIRCASites" -force
Enable-SPFeature "SlnOneSkyTeamsCustomization_FeatureExternalCIRCASites" -Url http://x/

Only the last line is the one that throws the exception.

on the uls logs I see also:
Key cannot be null. Parameter name: key

Feature Activation: Threw an exception, attempting to roll back. Feature ‘SlnOneSkyTeamsCustomization_FeatureExternalCIRCASites’ (ID: ‘4abb1043-ac29-4897-8ebc-7e01b897e6ed’). Exception: System.ArgumentNullException: Key cannot be null. Parameter name: key at Microsoft.SharePoint.Administration.SPElementDefinitionCollection.ProvisionFieldsAndContentTypes(SPFeaturePropertyCollection props, SPSite site, SPWeb web, Boolean fForce) at Microsoft.SharePoint.Administration.SPElementDefinitionCollection.ProvisionElements(SPFeaturePropertyCollection props, SPWebApplication webapp, SPSite site, SPWeb web, Boolean fForce) at Microsoft.SharePoint.SPFeature.Activate(SPSite siteParent, SPWeb webParent, SPFeaturePropertyCollection props, Boolean fForce)

Error Category: InvalidData Target Object Microsoft.SharePoint.PowerShell.SPCmdletEnableFeature Details NULL RecommendedAction NULL

I can show the code for all files here below.

https://sharepoint.stackexchange.com/questions/30244/system-argumentnullexception-on-feature-enabling

Answer 1

Looking at stacktrace of exception I can suppose that you have invalid XML definition for field or content type inside feature. Perphaps you are missing some mandatory attribute. Can you post definitions for feature elements?