Land Event Error "Airbase Doesn't Exist"

[xcandiottix]

Consider the following code:

--Event handler set up
--...

if(event_id == 3) then --landing
	if(event == nil or event.place == nil or event.place.getDesc == nil or event.place:getDesc() == nil) then
		--This is not an airbase, etc
		return
	else
		--Do something
	end
end

If a helicopter lands at an oil derrick on the Caucuses map I get the following error at the second if statement in the code above:

2023-03-04 17:59:35.473 ERROR   SCRIPTING (Main): Mission script error: [string "C:\dynamicCampaign\events.lua"]:266: Airbase doesn't exist
stack traceback:
	[C]: ?
	[C]: in function 'getDesc'

How can I avoid this error? It seems that calling getDesc() is making DCS error out in this case. Landings at other airbases or the ground works as expected.

For additional color, here is the DCS event in the logs for the very same landing:
 

2023-03-04 17:59:35.473 INFO    Scripting (Main): event:initiator_unit_type=SA342M,type=land,initiatorPilotName=blah,initiator_coalition=2,initiator_ws_type1=1,t=10532.934,initiator_object_id=16781581,initiatorMissionID=273,

 

Edited March 4, 2023 by xcandiottix

[TEMPEST.114]

event.place.getDesc == nil or event.place:getDesc() 

 

You have a . instead of a colon on the first part. 

 

[xcandiottix]

I added that to make sure that there was actually a variable named getDesc before running the function. You can imagine the table structure is something like this:

pseudo code
event = {}
event.place = {}
event.place.getDesc = function()

There are times that getDesc doesn't exist and calling it triggers an error, such as, when someone lands in a field. The field has no desc so straight away calling getDesc() will throw an error.

Edited March 4, 2023 by xcandiottix