2547408 - Error "Unable to cast object of type 'System.NullReferenceException' to type 'bali.lang.Exception'" in AO

The error "Unable to cast object of type 'System.NullReferenceException' to type 'bali.lang.Exception'" is occurring when trying to connect to a BW system in Analysis for Office.

The following entries appear in Analysis Office trace file:

---------------------------------------------------

General .NET Exception:
Unable to cast object of type 'System.NullReferenceException' to type 'bali.lang.Exception'.
at com.sap.ip.bi.base.application.service.rfcproxy.base.RfcFunction.execute()
at com.sap.ip.bi.bics.dataaccess.resource.impl.bi.dataarea.DataArea.create()
at com.sap.ip.bi.pioneer.core.models.CrDataArea.CreateDataArea(CrModelApplication iApp, IDataArea iBicsDataArea)
at com.sap.ip.bi.pioneer.core.models.CrModelApplication.GetCreateDataArea(CoSystemInfo iSystemInfo)
at com.sap.ip.bi.pioneer.core.models.CrDataProvider.AssignQueryViewPrepare(Boolean iSkipCreation)
at com.sap.ip.bi.pioneer.core.models.CrModelApplication.AssignDpsCompletely(List`1 iCompleteDpList, List`1 iDpListForVarScreenPossible, CreWithVariablePrompt iWithVariablePrompt, Boolean iWithMessageIfNoVar, CrePromptShown& oPromptShown, Boolean iForceDocumentModePromptsScreen)

---------------------------------------------------

SAP Analysis for Microsoft Office

connect, BW, error, connection, cache, query, exception, system , KBA , BI-RA-AO-XLA , Excel Addin , BI-RA-AO-CON , Please use component BI-RA-AO-XLA , Problem