If you experience a “Root Element is Missing” error when starting EZReporter, it is most likely generated when the “ezreporter.xml” initialization file that holds the last settings has become corrupted.  However, it is also possible that your configuration file has become corrupted.

Note:  This error is now addressed automatically as of EZReporter version 4.0.11.9 or later.

Here are the troubleshooting steps to recover from this error:

First try deleting or renaming the following file:

C:\ProgramData\Diablo Analytical\EZReporter\ezreporter.xml

Note that the ProgramData folder is usually hidden by Windows, so you may have to type the path into the Windows file browser manually.

After deleting this file, restart EZReporter.

If EZReporter starts without the error and you are prompted with the New Configuration File Wizard, select any of the configuration templates and continue.

Finally try reloading your configuration file.  If you get the error again, then it is your configuration file that is corrupt, and you will need to restore from backup.  If no error occurs, then the ezreporter.xml file was corrupted, in which case you are good to go.

Update:  Although much less common, this error has also been generated when starting EZReporter if the following file has been corrupted:

C:\ProgramData\Diablo Analytical\EZReporter\samplecount.xml

If the troubleshooting steps described above don’t solve the problem, then try renaming or deleting this file as well.

Similarly, the error can be generated when the Manual Data Entry window is displayed if the “.sampleinfo” file for the current configuration file has been corrupted.  The sample information file is located in the EZReporter “Settings” folder and has the same base name as the configuration file that is currently loaded.  For example, if the configuration file is named, “C6+ Default.cfgx”, the corresponding sample information file will be named, “C6+ Default.sampleinfo.xml”.  You can safely delete or rename this file if you are experiencing the “Root Element is Missing” error when the Manual Data Entry window is displayed.