Add a check for empty files

Oct 13, 2025 by wbrum.org 69 views

Introduction

When opening an empty Markdown file in the View block, the application throws the following error: Error: Cannot read properties of undefined (reading 'split'). This error is caused by the application's inability to handle empty Markdown files. In this article, we will explore the current behavior, expected behavior, and steps to reproduce the issue. We will also discuss the possible solutions and provide a fix for this bug.

Current Behavior

When opening an empty Markdown file in the View block, the application throws the following error:

Error: Cannot read properties of undefined (reading 'split')

TypeError: Cannot read properties of undefined (reading 'split')
    at transformBlocks (file:///Applications/Wave.app/Contents/Resources/app.asar/dist/frontend/assets/index-BU5Cfxta.js:31814:26)
    at Markdown (file:///Applications/Wave.app/Contents/Resources/app.asar/dist/frontend/assets/index-BU5Cfxta.js:68342:29)
    at Nh (file:///Applications/Wave.app/Contents/Resources/app.asar/dist/frontend/assets/index-BU5Cfxta.js:14089:10)
    at Vk (file:///Applications/Wave.app/Contents/Resources/app.asar/dist/frontend/assets/index-BU5Cfxta.js:17032:14)
    at Uk (file:///Applications/Wave.app/Contents/Resources/app.asar/dist/frontend/assets/index-BU5Cfxta.js:16726:15)
    at Tk (file:///Applications/Wave.app/Contents/Resources/app.asar/dist/frontend/assets/index-BU5Cfxta.js:16720:27)
    at Ik (file:///Applications/Wave.app/Contents/Resources/app.asar/dist/frontend/assets/index-BU5Cfxta.js:16705:9)
    at Nk (file:///Applications/Wave.app/Contents/Resources/app.asar/dist/frontend/assets/index-BU5Cfxta.js:16436:10)
    at Gk (file:///Applications/Wave.app/Contents/Resources/app.asar/dist/frontend/assets/index-BU5Cfxta.js:16372:62)
    at J2 (file:///Applications/Wave.app/Contents/Resources/app.asar/dist/frontend/assets/index-BU5Cfxta.js:11104:22)

The error occurs because the application is trying to read the split property of an undefined object. This is caused by the fact that the application is not handling empty Markdown files correctly.

Expected Behavior

Opening an empty Markdown file should not cause an error. The application should either display an empty file without issues or provide a meaningful message indicating that the file is empty.

Steps To Reproduce

Open the terminal and navigate to the directory containing the empty Markdown file.
Run the command wsh view ./ to open the file in the View block.
The application should throw the Error: Cannot read properties of undefined (reading 'split') error.

Wave Version

The Wave version used to reproduce the issue is v0.8.8.

Platform

The platform used to reproduce the issue is macOS.

OS Version/Distribution

The OS version and distribution used to reproduce the issue is not specified.

Architecture

The architecture used to reproduce the issue is arm64.

Possible Solutions

There are several possible solutions to this issue:

Add a check for empty files: The application can add a check to see if the file is empty before trying to read it. If the file is empty, the application can display a meaningful message indicating that the file is empty.
Handle undefined objects: The application can handle undefined objects by checking if the object is undefined before trying to read its properties.
Fix the transformBlocks function: The transformBlocks function is causing the error. The application can fix this function to handle empty files correctly.

Fixing the Issue

To fix the issue, we need to add a check for empty files in the transformBlocks function. We can do this by checking if the file is empty before trying to read it. If the file is empty, we can display a meaningful message indicating that the file is empty.

Here is the updated code for the transformBlocks function:

function transformBlocks(file) {
  if (file === '') {
    console.log('The file is empty.');
    return;
  }
  // Rest of the function remains the same
}

By adding this check, we can prevent the Error: Cannot read properties of undefined (reading 'split') error from occurring.

Conclusion

Q: What is the error "Error: Cannot read properties of undefined (reading 'split')" and how is it caused?

A: The error "Error: Cannot read properties of undefined (reading 'split')" is caused by the application's inability to handle empty Markdown files. When the application tries to read the split property of an undefined object, it throws this error.

Q: What is the expected behavior when opening an empty Markdown file in the View block?

A: The expected behavior is that the application should either display an empty file without issues or provide a meaningful message indicating that the file is empty.

Q: How can I reproduce the issue?

A: To reproduce the issue, follow these steps:

Open the terminal and navigate to the directory containing the empty Markdown file.
Run the command wsh view ./ to open the file in the View block.
The application should throw the Error: Cannot read properties of undefined (reading 'split') error.

Q: What are the possible solutions to this issue?

A: There are several possible solutions to this issue:

Add a check for empty files: The application can add a check to see if the file is empty before trying to read it. If the file is empty, the application can display a meaningful message indicating that the file is empty.
Handle undefined objects: The application can handle undefined objects by checking if the object is undefined before trying to read its properties.
Fix the transformBlocks function: The transformBlocks function is causing the error. The application can fix this function to handle empty files correctly.

Q: How can I fix the issue?

A: To fix the issue, you can add a check for empty files in the transformBlocks function. Here is an example of how you can do this:

function transformBlocks(file) {
  if (file === '') {
    console.log('The file is empty.');
    return;
  }
  // Rest of the function remains the same
}

By adding this check, you can prevent the Error: Cannot read properties of undefined (reading 'split') error from occurring.

Q: What is the Wave version used to reproduce the issue?

A: The Wave version used to reproduce the issue is v0.8.8.

Q: What is the platform used to reproduce the issue?

A: The platform used to reproduce the issue is macOS.

Q: What is the OS version and distribution used to reproduce the issue?

A: The OS version and distribution used to reproduce the issue is not specified.

Q: What is the architecture used to reproduce the issue?

A: The architecture used to reproduce the issue is arm64.

Q: Can I fix this issue myself?

A: Yes, you can fix this issue yourself by following the steps outlined above. If you are not comfortable with coding, you can also reach out to the Wave community for help.

Q: Where can I find more information about this issue?

A: You can find more information about this issue on the Wave documentation website or by searching for the issue on the Wave community forum.