NoneType AttributeError when Bulk Renaming Nameless Devices

[stuntguy3000]

NetBox version

3.6.3

Python version

3.8

Steps to Reproduce

1. Create devices without a name
2. Select and Bulk Rename those devices
3. Disable Regex
4. Attempt a rename operation

Of note, I am also unable to rename nameless devices with Regex on, but no error is observed.

Expected Behavior

The renaming of bulk devices operation should be successful.

Observed Behavior

<class 'AttributeError'>

'NoneType' object has no attribute 'replace'

Python version: 3.8.10
NetBox version: 3.6.3
Plugins: 
  netbox_demo: 0.3.1

[jeremystretch]

The error is caused by this line, which assumes the device name will be a string (as opposed to None):

netbox/netbox/netbox/views/generic/bulk_views.py

Line 699 in 51ef4fb

obj.new_name = obj.name.replace(find, replace)

[jeremystretch]

Select and Bulk Rename those devices

I'm not clear on what behavior you expect. The bulk rename function requires a "find" value, which cannot match a null name.

@arthanson's PR #14065 will effectively ignore unnamed devices, avoiding the exception. The only way I see to enable renaming unnamed devices would be to blindly apply the "replace" value, which seems very dangerous.

[stuntguy3000]

I'm not clear on what behavior you expect.

The behavior I'm expecting is to be able to bulk rename unnamed devices.

Perhaps an extension to this form is suitable, e.g. a checkbox to force-match against unnamed devices

[jeremystretch]

The behavior I'm expecting is to be able to bulk rename unnamed devices.

Renaming them all to the same name?

[stuntguy3000]

Renaming them all to the same name?

In this instance yes - the use case was a stack of devices were created as placeholders to fill out a rack diagram. Think things like Cable Organizer Trays or Patch Panels, they don't need unique names.

[DanSheps]

The only way I see to enable renaming unnamed devices would be to blindly apply the "replace" value, which seems very dangerous.

I don't think our data model will allow this, as name would not be unique.

[DanSheps]

I believe this was discussed during a maintainers meeting, the consensus is this:

• We can permit devices to be renamed with RegEx, provided the RegEx forms a unique name or otherwise passes the uniqueness check
• The RegEx must specify only the start ^ and end $ regex and nothing else (regex would be ^$)