Root element is missing when trying to load the termbase list

Error dialog in Trados Studio displaying 'Root element is missing' with details about a System.Xml.XmlException. A 'Please wait...' loading bar is visible at the bottom.

I get this error when Trados loaded the termbase list in "Project Settings - All Language Pairs - Termbases". 

When I clicked OK, the error disappeared but the "Please wait..." loading screen did not disappear and I was able to click termbases in the list and use Trados normally. When I clicked "Use - "File-based termbase" then the error dialogue appeared again. The loading screen closed only after I had closed Trados completely.

<SDLErrorDetails time="11/25/2025 1:46:15 PM">
  <ErrorMessage>Root element is missing.</ErrorMessage>
  <Exception>
    <Type>System.Xml.XmlException, System.Xml, Version=4.0.0.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=b77a5c561934e089</Type>
    <ExceptionMessage>Root element is missing.</ExceptionMessage>
    <LineNumber>0</LineNumber>
    <LinePosition>0</LinePosition>
    <SourceUri />
    <HelpLink />
    <Source>System.Xml</Source>
    <HResult>-2146232000</HResult>
    <StackTrace><![CDATA[   at System.Xml.XmlTextReaderImpl.Throw(Exception e)
   at System.Xml.XmlTextReaderImpl.ParseDocumentContent()
   at System.Xml.XmlTextReaderImpl.Read()
   at System.Xml.XPath.XPathDocument.LoadFromReader(XmlReader reader, XmlSpace space)
   at System.Xml.XPath.XPathDocument..ctor(TextReader textReader)
   at Sdl.TranslationStudio.Terminology.Common.XmlProcessor.TermbaseProviderLanguage.FromXml(String xmlIndexes)
   at Sdl.TranslationStudio.Terminology.FileTermbase.FileBasedTerminologyProvider.GetLanguages()
   at Sdl.ProjectApi.Implementation.TermbaseApi.ProjectTermbaseLanguageIndexGuessor.<>c__DisplayClass3_0.<.ctor>b__0()
   at System.Lazy`1.CreateValue()
   at System.Lazy`1.LazyInitValue()
   at System.Lazy`1.get_Value()
   at Sdl.ProjectApi.Implementation.TermbaseApi.ProjectTermbaseLanguageIndexGuessor.Guess(Language language)
   at Sdl.ProjectApi.Implementation.TermbaseApi.ProjectTermbaseProvider.GuessLanguageIndexes()
   at Sdl.TranslationStudio.ProjectManagement.Terminology.ProjectTermbasesControl.TermbasesChanged()
   at Sdl.TranslationStudio.ProjectManagement.Terminology.ProjectTermbasesControl.Termbases_ItemRemoved(Object sender, ItemCollectionRemovedEventArgs`1 eventArgs)
   at System.EventHandler`1.Invoke(Object sender, TEventArgs e)
   at Sdl.ProjectApi.Implementation.TermbaseApi.ItemCollection`1.OnItemRemoved(T item)
   at Sdl.ProjectApi.Implementation.TermbaseApi.ItemCollection`1.RemoveItem(Int32 index)
   at System.Collections.ObjectModel.Collection`1.Remove(T item)
   at Sdl.TranslationStudio.ProjectManagement.Terminology.ProjectTermbasesControl.RemoveTermbase(IProjectTermbase termbase)
   at Sdl.TranslationStudio.ProjectManagement.Terminology.ProjectTermbasesControl._removeButton_Click(Object sender, EventArgs eventArgs)
   at System.Windows.Forms.ToolStripItem.RaiseEvent(Object key, EventArgs e)
   at System.Windows.Forms.ToolStripButton.OnClick(EventArgs e)
   at System.Windows.Forms.ToolStripItem.HandleClick(EventArgs e)
   at System.Windows.Forms.ToolStripItem.HandleMouseUp(MouseEventArgs e)
   at System.Windows.Forms.ToolStripItem.FireEventInteractive(EventArgs e, ToolStripItemEventType met)
   at System.Windows.Forms.ToolStripItem.FireEvent(EventArgs e, ToolStripItemEventType met)
   at System.Windows.Forms.ToolStrip.OnMouseUp(MouseEventArgs mea)
   at System.Windows.Forms.Control.WmMouseUp(Message& m, MouseButtons button, Int32 clicks)
   at System.Windows.Forms.Control.WndProc(Message& m)
   at System.Windows.Forms.ScrollableControl.WndProc(Message& m)
   at System.Windows.Forms.ToolStrip.WndProc(Message& m)
   at System.Windows.Forms.Control.ControlNativeWindow.OnMessage(Message& m)
   at System.Windows.Forms.Control.ControlNativeWindow.WndProc(Message& m)
   at System.Windows.Forms.NativeWindow.Callback(IntPtr hWnd, Int32 msg, IntPtr wparam, IntPtr lparam)]]></StackTrace>
  </Exception>
  <Environment>
    <ProductName>Trados Studio</ProductName>
    <ProductVersion>Studio18</ProductVersion>
    <EntryAssemblyFileVersion>18.1.3.6657</EntryAssemblyFileVersion>
    <OperatingSystem>Microsoft Windows 11 Pro</OperatingSystem>
    <ServicePack>NULL</ServicePack>
    <OperatingSystemLanguage>1033</OperatingSystemLanguage>
    <CodePage>1252</CodePage>
    <LoggedOnUser>XXX</LoggedOnUser>
    <DotNetFrameWork>4.0.30319.42000</DotNetFrameWork>
    <ComputerName>XXX</ComputerName>
    <ConnectedToNetwork>True</ConnectedToNetwork>
    <PhysicalMemory>16207036 MB</PhysicalMemory>
  </Environment>
</SDLErrorDetails>



Removed AI Suggestion
[edited by: Olav at 11:53 AM (GMT 0) on 25 Nov 2025]