System.NullRefe renceException Error

[Eric Diana]

I am trying to place an strings into an array of strings I am
declaring as
Dim Fields() As String

I have another variable im doing the same thing with and it works.

Public Shared Operations() As String

This is the error I am getting

System.NullRefe renceException: Object reference not set to an instance
of an object.

Here is my code
Public Class WebForm1
Inherits System.Web.UI.P age
Protected WebForm1 As System.Web.UI.H tmlControls.Htm lForm
Protected WithEvents Button1 As System.Web.UI.W ebControls.Butt on
Protected WithEvents DropDownList1 As
System.Web.UI.W ebControls.Drop DownList
Protected WithEvents TextBox1 As System.Web.UI.W ebControls.Text Box
Protected WithEvents ListBox1 As System.Web.UI.W ebControls.List Box
Protected WithEvents Repeater1 As
System.Web.UI.W ebControls.Repe ater
Protected WithEvents DataGrid1 As
System.Web.UI.W ebControls.Data Grid
Protected WithEvents DataList1 As
System.Web.UI.W ebControls.Data List
Protected WithEvents TextBox2 As System.Web.UI.W ebControls.Text Box
Public Shared Operations() As String
Dim FieldList As ClientResearch. Research
Dim Fields() As String
Private Sub Page_Load(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As
System.EventArg s) Handles MyBase.Load
FieldList.GetFi eldListing(FEID , CID, UserName, Password,
Fields)
Try

If Not Fields Is Nothing Then
Dim txtBoxes(UBound (Fields)) As
System.Web.UI.W ebControls.Text Box
Dim j As Int32
Dim k As Int32 = 0
For j = 0 To UBound(Fields)
txtBoxes(j) = New TextBox()
txtBoxes(j).ID = Fields(j)
txtBoxes(j).Tex t = "Field " & Fields(j)
txtBoxes(j).Sty le("Position") = "Absolute"
txtBoxes(j).Sty le("Top") = "100px"
txtBoxes(j).Sty le("Left") = "100px"
WebForm1.Contro ls.Add(txtBoxes (j))
k = k + 5
Next j
End If
If Not Page.IsPostBack Then
If OperationsList( ) = "" Then
Dim Operations(0)
Operations(0) = "No Operations Found"
DropDownList1.I tems.Add(Operat ions(0))
Else
Dim i As Integer = 0
Operations = OperationsList. Split(",")
i = 0
For i = 0 To UBound(Operatio ns)
DropDownList1.I tems.Add(Operat ions(i))
Next
End If
End If

Catch ErrorMessage As Exception

TextBox1.Text = ErrorMessage.Me ssage() &
ErrorMessage.So urce

Finally

End Try
End Sub

It doesn't matter what I do, but i cannot get past this point.

I have even tried to Dim the array as Dim Fields(0) As String
and then setting Fields(0) = "Test" and during debug it Fails on this
line.
I cant find anything in the newsgroups except Dim Fields(-1) As String
but that does not work. Tried setting it to nothing, didnt work. The
Function GetFieldListing does not get called, it fails on that line.
If anyone can help I would greatly appreciate it.

Thank you in advance,

Eric