Error: Call to a member function getTag() on null

[baba]

I use jDownloads on an existing site I support and I like it very much. But i got an issue all sudden!

jDownloads Version 4.1.7 Stable - Date: 2026-07-24
Joomla: 6.13
PHP 8.3.33

I performed a test scan and got this result:

Monitoring Log
==================================================
Date: Friday, 18 September 2026 02:24
Test Run Results
==================================================

Searching for new Directories
Checked Directories: 8
No new Directories found.
Searching for new Files
Checked Files: 1293
New File found:  → acs_archive/alphas_crazy_sounds-2026-09-17.mp3
COM_JDOWNLOADS_ERROR_RESULT_MSG: ✗ acs_archive/alphas_crazy_sounds-2026-09-17.mp3: Call to a member function getTag() on null
No new Files found.
Checking all published Categories
All published Category Directories exist.
Checking all published Downloads
All published Downloads exist.
✓ Check complete!
The scan duration: 16.75 seconds.
Number of starts: 53
max_execution_time: 30
memory_limit: 128

So the final scan is NOT successful.

Any help is highly appreciated!

NB: i performed DB check & mount check without any issues!

[ColinM]

Hi
Actually I think the scan has successfully - it identified a file that is not yet been made into a Download or there is a missing category. Did you use the Files method to upload and create Downloads? If it is a large file then it may take a little while.
ColinM

[baba]

Hi
Actually I think the scan has successfully - it identified a file that is not yet been made into a Download or there is a missing category. Did you use the Files method to upload and create Downloads? If it is a large file then it may take a little while.
ColinM

Hello Collin, thanks for you quick aswer. To clear things up a little:

My Downloads are uploaded to a SeaFile instance by the DJs. I then copy the files to the proper directory (Wasabi mounted). Then i perform the JDownload scan (Test first) and fill the details & publish the Download. I did it

I checked the existence & checksum of the file => OK. Until today it worked this way for almost 12k of Downloads!

Cheers
Baba

[ColinM]

Baba,
Thanks for extra info. I now understand that Seafile is a cloud based file sharing and syncing platform. I am not familiar with it !!
I understand you have around 12,000 Downloads. Could you outline how you then make the file into a Download please.
Is it by using the External File Link in Add Download? And do you have to set the Creation Date?
ColinM

[baba]

Baba,
Thanks for extra info. I now understand that Seafile is a cloud based file sharing and syncing platform. I am not familiar with it !!
I understand you have around 12,000 Downloads. Could you outline how you then make the file into a Download please.
Is it by using the External File Link in Add Download? And do you have to set the Creation Date?
ColinM

Hey Colin,

i try to explayn as good i can
- DJ's are uploading the DJ-Set via Seafile to their repo.
- I am checking the files and add additional stuff like id3 tags etc.
- if all done i copy the file into my JDownloads file structure (var/www/jdownloads/dj_abc e.g)
- After that i am performing the JDownloads scan  & add files and details as needed

Additional Information:

I have a dev-system (restore of my prod joomla)
I performed a scan for new files with success! - All new files found & added!

So i performed a backup and wnat to restore this Backup on my broken Prod system, but got this Joomla error:

An error has occurred.

0 Joomla\Filesystem\File::upload: File not uploaded for security reasons!

I think if i would be able to restore the backup file (.txt) the issue would be gone!

Baba