octobercms/october · error · Error

Key property ${keyProperty} is not found in the Inspector da

Error message

Key property ${keyProperty} is not found in the Inspector data. Property: ${this.propertyDefinition.property}

What it means

DashController is a controller behavior for dashboard reports; every operation funnels through validateDash, which resolves the active definition from the argument, the `_dash_definition` POST parameter, or the already-initialized `$this->definition`. If all three are empty the behavior has no idea which dashboard to render, so it throws this ApplicationException (with an empty :field substitution) — meaning no definition was supplied anywhere.

Source

Thrown at modules/backend/assets/foundation/controls/inspector/inspector.editor.objectlist.js:482

        $(link).popup('hide')
        return false
    }

    ObjectListEditor.prototype.validateKeyValue = function() {
        if (!this.isKeyValueMode()) {
            return true
        }

        if (this.currentRowInspector === null) {
            return true
        }

        var data = this.currentRowInspector.getValues(),
            keyProperty = this.propertyDefinition.keyProperty

        if (data[keyProperty] === undefined) {
            throw new Error('Key property ' + keyProperty + ' is not found in the Inspector data. Property: ' + this.propertyDefinition.property)
        }

        var keyPropertyValue = data[keyProperty],
            keyPropertyTitle = this.getKeyProperty().title

        if (typeof keyPropertyValue !== 'string') {
            throw new Error('Key property (' + keyProperty + ') value should be a string. Property: ' + this.propertyDefinition.property)
        }

        if ($.trim(keyPropertyValue).length === 0) {
            $.oc.flashMsg({text: 'The value of key property ' + keyPropertyTitle + ' cannot be empty.', 'class': 'error', 'interval': 3})
            return false
        }

        var selectedRow = this.getSelectedRow(),
            tbody = this.getTableBody(),
            dataRows = tbody.querySelectorAll('tr[data-inspector-values]')

View on GitHub (pinned to b608633a7e)

Solutions

1. Pass the definition explicitly when rendering: `<?= $this->dashRender('main') ?>`.
2. Ensure the dashboard request includes the `_dash_definition` POST parameter (the widget normally sends it), e.g. keep the hidden input intact in customized partials.
3. Initialize early in the controller lifecycle by calling `$this->initDash('main')` so `$this->definition` is set for later handler calls.

Example fix

// before
<?= $this->dashRender() ?>

// after
<?= $this->dashRender('main') ?>

// In the controller before rendering or handling dash requests
public function dashRenderSafe($definition = null)
{
    $definition = $definition ?: post(\Dashboard\Behaviors\DashController::PARAM_DEFINITION);
    if (!$definition) {
        throw new ApplicationException('No dashboard definition supplied.'); // clearer than the default
    }
    return $this->dashRender($definition);
}

try {
    return $this->dashRender($definition);
} catch (ApplicationException $e) {
    if (str_contains($e->getMessage(), 'does not contain a definition')) {
        // fall back to rendering a dashboard picker / default definition name
    }
}

When it happens

Trigger: Calling `$this->dashRender()` with no argument in a view when the behavior was never initialized with a definition (no prior initDash and no `_dash_definition` posted); an AJAX handler hitting the behavior before any dashboard was loaded; a controller where dashConfig exists but render is invoked bare.

Common situations: Adding the DashController behavior and calling `dashRender()` without reading the docs example (`dashRender('system')`); AJAX partial refreshes that strip the hidden `_dash_definition` input; copy-pasted controller code missing the definition argument.

Related errors

• Key property (${keyProperty}) value should be a string. Prop
• Trying to get selected row without a popup reference.
• Cannot find the requested row group.
• Inspector container ${$containerHolder.data['inspector-conta
• Cannot switch to container: a container element is not found

AI-assisted analysis of octobercms/october@b608633a7e (2026-08-21). Data as JSON: /api/errors/7ede96ede6cef919. Report an issue: GitHub.