Sub New() is not accessible in this context because it is 'Friend'

Question

So what does this mean and how do I fix it? This message occurs if I place the New keyword in the line(s) below. If I remove it, i get an error at runtime saying I need to use New. What am I doing wrong? ``` Dim oPS As AeccPointStyle = New AeccPointStyle ops = oDescKey.PointStyle Debug.Print(oPS.Name) Debug.Print(oPS.MarkerSymbolName) ``` Also tried ``` Dim oPS As New AeccPointStyle ops = oDescKey.PointStyle Debug.Print(oPS.Name) Debug.Print(oPS.MarkerSymbolName) ``` Thanks! Update 1 - based on comment from Meta-Knight 1 - ``` Dim oPS As AeccPointStyle = Nothing oPS = oDescKey.PointStyle ``` 2 - ``` Dim oPS As AeccPointStyle = oDescKey.PointStyle ``` Both versions throw NullReferenceExceptions.

Accepted Answer

The empty constructor of AeccPointStyle is marked as friend, which means only classes inside its assembly can call it.

But looking at your code, I don't think you need to call New. Just set it to Nothing at first. Or even better, directly set your variable with the good value:

```
Dim oPS As AeccPointStyle = oDescKey.PointStyle
```

Edit about your NullReferenceException:

Typically, this type of exception is raised when you call a property of an object with a value of Nothing. In this case, if oDescKey was set to Nothing, such an exception would be raised.

If oDescKey does NOT have a value of Nothing, then the only thing that executes some code is the PointStyle property. So it's safe to assume that the PointStyle property throws a NullReferenceException. Try watching the oDescKey.PointStyle variable in the debugger, you should see that it throws an exception.

Sub New() is not accessible in this context because it is 'Friend'

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