Whatsapp-web.js: Error: Cannot read property 'map' of undefined on getChats

[Leoalmeida95]

Bug description

I already have a very advanced system with a library where many phone numbers have been tested. However, in a specific number (with an average of 300 conversations), when trying to get the conversations (getChats) it returns the reported error. Follow what is happening below step by step:

Reproduction steps

Steps to reproduce the behavior:

1. After authenticating with qrcode and using other methods normally like 'sendMessage' and 'getContacts', I make a request for 'getChats'. Below the request code snippet:

1. After the request, the code returns an exception with the following message (it only occurs with that particular phone number):

1. As you can see in the message, it is clear that the problem is in line 449 of Client.js. So, I opened node_modules and used 'console_log' on the line before the chats returned to see what happened:

1. After making the request again, this was the output in the terminal before giving the error again:

As you can see below the string 'Return of chats on Client.js', the result of 'chats' before using 'map' is undefined, which causes the error.

Expected behavior

Believing that the error can be avoided by checking before 'map' whether 'chats' is valid. However, what I can't understand is why a phone number with more than 300 conversations has the return of 'getChats' undefined.

As I said at other times, several numbers have been tested but so far this behavior has only occurred with that specific one. It is a number used by one person every day.

Additional context

I can't imagine any reason for that particular number to give this problem. As I said, it is used normally on whatsapp very often.

I really appreciate it very much if you can help me because I really have an advanced system with the library, but I need to know why that is, because if not, it will never be possible to know if it will not happen again with other phone numbers.

Thanks and sorry for the English !! @pedroslopez

[olirock]

The same with me.. I have two numbers. Only one number don't get chats and i'm get the same error...

[pedroslopez]

I've seen this reported before, but I haven't been able to reproduce it... My thoughts is that there is an unhandled case with a specific kind of chat, or some properties on that chat. It's really tough for me to fix, since I don't have the issue myself. Like you said, the error can be fixed by checking for undefined, but that still won't return the chats, as it should.

Can you please do these steps?

1. Run the library with headless: false so you can see the chrome browser
2. Properly log in
3. Once you're in whatsapp web, go to the browser console and type window.Store.Chat.models. What does this return?
4. In the console, type window.WWebJS.getChats(). What does this return?

This would probably give us a better idea of what's going on.

[olirock]

First method return:

Second method return:

[olirock]

If you have availability we can schedule a conversation via Discord so that I can present you the error.

[pedroslopez]

If you have availability we can schedule a conversation via Discord so that I can present you the error.

Would you be available now?

[olirock]

Yes!

[pedroslopez]

Yes!

Please join the server and shoot me a message so we can talk. I'm @pedro or @nachoon there.

[pedroslopez]

After chatting with @olirock for a while on discord, we were able to find that his problem was with an official business account that had sent him a message with action buttons. I'm wondering if this is also the case for other people that may have this issue, so I'm going to post the code we used to find the problem below:

const chatIds = await client.pupPage.evaluate(() => {
    return window.WWebJS.getChats().map(c => c.id._serialized);
});

let chatCount = 0;
for (let chatId of chatIds) {
    try {
        const chat = await client.getChatById(chatId);
        if (!chat) {
            console.log(`Could not serialize chat ${chatId}`);
        } else {
            chatCount++;
        }
    } catch (e) {
        console.log(`Could not get chat ${chatId}`);
    }
}
console.log(`Correctly got ${chatCount} chats`);

@leoalmeida95 This should give you which chat is having problems. Please check it out and let me know some details about the chat (is it a business account? is it verified? any other interesting facts?)

[olirock]

Hello @pedroslopez , I found a link that offers information about that Ifood message template that caused the error in my number. Follow the link:

https://www.infobip.com/docs/whatsapp/message-templates-guidelines

[Leoalmeida95]

@pedroslopez , I really appreciate the help! my problem was even a commercial account that had a personalized message, just like the one that @olirock showed up there! Removing the conversation solved the problem! Thank you!

[Leoalmeida95]

Solved according to @pedroslopez answer!
https://github.com/pedroslopez/whatsapp-web.js/issues/297#issuecomment-668377224