Error Message: Unexpected character '�'

help
1

Hi,

I started receiving the following error message on 3 apps that all previously worked:

Started proxy.
=> Started MongoDB.
=> Errors prevented startup:

While computing assigned variables:
/packages/spacebars-compiler/templatetag.js: Unexpected character ‘�’
(377:41)

=> Your application has errors. Waiting for file change.

I’m not 100% sure, but I think the last action I took before the error message started showing up was running the following package install:

meteor remove mrt:iron-router-progress

Again, not 100% sure, but I think that’s when the error started. I tried toying around with a few steps like removing that package, or looking into /packages/spacebars-compiler/templatetag.js. Not having any success though.

Highly appreciate any advice on what to do next.

2

I would say you saved one of your files as UTF8 with BOM. Find that file, save it as UTF8 without BOM, and your problem should go away. This in a guess based on experience.

1 Like
3

That worked. Very strange that saving one file caused all the meteor projects to throw for that error. But oh well, your solution works.

4

It is not strange really. Those BOM characters would cause you headache if it were a PHP, Python or Rails project, too.

And it is not my solution per se. It is the solution. I have seen this error many times with people using Windows. I would wager you are using Windows, too.

Anyways; glad I could help.