# Pull Request Template
## Description
This PR fixes a crash where opening a conversation threw `TypeError:
Cannot read properties of null (reading 'localeCompare')` and prevented
the agent assignment dropdown from rendering.
Since #14866, agent bots are included in the assignable agents list.
`AgentBot#name` is not presence-validated, so system bots (account-less,
global) can have a `null` name. Those nameless bots flowed into
name-based operations that assumed a string, causing crashes and
warnings across multiple surfaces:
* **Assignment dropdown sort:** `getAgentsByAvailability` called
`a.name.localeCompare(b.name)`, causing a `localeCompare` `TypeError`.
* **Dropdown search:** `MultiselectDropdownItems` called
`option.name.toLowerCase()`, causing a `toLowerCase` `TypeError`.
* **Agent Bots settings:** `Avatar` received `name=null` for a `String`
prop, triggering a Vue prop validation warning.
### What changed
* Keep nameless agent bots in the assignment dropdown and render a `-`
fallback label in `useAgentsList`. These are still valid,
assignable-by-ID records: the assignable agents API includes accessible
bots, and `Conversations::AssignmentService` assigns them by ID.
Preserving them avoids hiding valid assignment targets. Bots are still
included only when `includeAgentBots` is enabled.
* Make the sort in `getAgentsByAvailability` null-safe by coercing
missing names to an empty string (defense in depth).
* Make the search filter in `MultiselectDropdownItems` null-safe
(defense in depth).
* Pass a null-safe `name` prop to `Avatar` in the Agent Bots settings
list to eliminate the Vue prop validation warning.
Fixes
https://linear.app/chatwoot/issue/CW-7670/agent-assignment-dropdown-crashes-with-cannot-read-properties-of-null
## Type of change
- [x] Bug fix (non-breaking change which fixes an issue)
## How Has This Been Tested?
1. Have a system agent bot (`name: null`) that is assignable to an
inbox.
2. Open any conversation in that inbox.
* The agent assignment dropdown renders without console errors.
* The nameless bot is listed with a `-` label and can be assigned.
3. Go to **Settings → Agent Bots**.
* The page renders without the `Avatar` prop validation warning.
## Checklist:
- [x] My code follows the style guidelines of this project
- [x] I have performed a self-review of my code
- [x] I have commented on my code, particularly in hard-to-understand
areas
- [ ] I have made corresponding changes to the documentation
- [x] My changes generate no new warnings
- [x] I have added tests that prove my fix is effective or that my
feature works
- [x] New and existing unit tests pass locally with my changes
- [ ] Any dependent changes have been merged and published in downstream
modules
