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Error: createInitializeGroupInstruction fails with InvalidInstruction – How to Create an NFT Collection using Token Extensions

In this article, we’ll explore why you might be encountering issues when trying to create an NFT collection on Solana using the Token Extensions. We’ll provide a step-by-step guide on how to solve these problems and successfully deploy your NFT collection.

The Problem: createInitializeGroupInstruction Failure with InvalidInstruction

When creating an NFT collection, you need to use the createInitializeGroupInstruction instruction to initialize a group of tokens. However, this instruction is notorious for failing with an `InvalidInstruction‘ error when deployed on Solana.

Solution Branches: A Solution

To tackle these challenges, we’ll dive into two solution branches:

  • Follow the Group, Group Pointer, Member, Member Pointer lesson

    : This branch assumes you’ve successfully completed the off-chain group metadata upload to Irys.

  • **Resolving createInitializeGroupInstruction Failure with InvalidInstruction: A separate article focused on this specific issue

Solution Branch 1: Follow the Group, Group Pointer, Member, Member Pointer Lesson

In this solution branch, we’ll assume you’ve successfully uploaded off-chain group metadata to Irys and are ready to create an NFT collection. We’ll follow a series of steps to resolve the createInitializeGroupInstruction failure with an InvalidInstruction.

Step 1: Verify Group Structure

Before creating the group instruction, verify that your group structure is correct by checking the following:

  • All group members have unique IDs.

  • Each member has at least one owner.

  • The group’s size matches the expected number.

If any of these checks fail, you may need to adjust your group structure before proceeding.

Step 2: Create a Token Extension

Create a new token extension on Solana by running the following command:

solana-commands create token-extension --name NFT-token-extension

This will generate an `NFTTokenExtension.json‘ file. This file contains the necessary metadata for your token extension.

Step 3: Update the Group Instruction

Update the group instruction to include the new token extension:

{


  "instructions": [


    {


      "instruction_id": "createInitializeGroupInstruction",


      "type": "group_instruction",


      "args": {


        “group_name”: “My NFT Collection”,


        "member": [


          {


            "owner_id": "0x...Your Token Address..."


          }


        ]


      },


      "extension_ids": ["NFTTokenExtension"]


    }


  ]


}

Step 4: Deploy the Group Instruction

Deploy the updated group instruction using the createInitializeGroupInstruction command:

solana-commands deploy --address  --instruction-id createInitializeGroupInstruction --args {


  “group_name”: “My NFT Collection”,


  "member": [


    {


      "owner_id": "0x...Your Token Address..."


    }


  ]


}

If you encounter an InvalidInstruction error, review the solana-commands documentation for more information on handling this type of error.

Solution Branch 2: Resolving createInitializeGroupInstruction Failure with InvalidInstruction: A Separate Article

For those experiencing issues with the group instruction failure, we’ll provide a separate article focused on solving this specific problem. This article will delve into detailed troubleshooting steps and potential solutions to help you overcome the `InvalidInstruction‘ error.