Getting Exact Location of Exception in C# Code

Post is about locating exact location of the Exception in the code. There is always problem for the developer to locate exact location from where Exception raised, because of that it difficult for the developer what actually went wrong. Most of the time problem occurs when there is too many libraries referenced i.e. used in project.

To understand let’s consider below example:
In following example application is divided in three layers

1. Font end - Layer though which user interact with application and Displays data to end user of application.
2. Business -Layer which is having business logic, code to call datalayer and the info classes which transport between font and data layer.
3. Data - Layer which interact with database and supply data to business layer.

Front Layer code 

class Program
    {
        //Program p = new Program();

        public int i = 10;
        public static void Main(string[] args)
        {
            try
            {
                (new BusinessEmployee()).GetEmployeeList();
            }
            catch (Exception ex)
            {
                global::System.Windows.Forms.MessageBox.Show(ex.Message);
            }

        }
    }

As you see in above code Font layer calling “GetEmployeeList” method to get list of all employee.

BusinessLayer code 
 

    public class BusinessEmployee
    {
        private readonly DataEmployee dataEmployee;

        public BusinessEmployee()
        {
            dataEmployee = new DataEmployee();
        }

        //Business layer class for employee 
        public  void GetEmployeeList()
        {
            dataEmployee.GetEmployeeList();
        }
    }

In this layer Business class calling DataLayer to get employee list from the database.

DataLayer code

    public class DataEmployee
    {
        //Data layer class for employee 
        public  void GetEmployeeList()
        {
            throw new Exception("Not able to fetch employee");
        }
    }

This layer return employee list, but for the example its returning exception.

Now if you run above code by putting it into respected layer, then when exception thrown by the actual code debugger break execution in the front layer code. Below image shows same thing.



So it becomes difficult for the developer what went wrong if there is actual complex code is there.

Solution
 In Visual studio there is option as given in below image that allows to break debugging at the point i.e. at the code from where exception is coming.



Once you clicked on menu option it will open up dialog box where you can mark tick on “Common Language Runtime Exception” as in below image and click ok.



Now if you run same code than debugger will stop at exact location from where exception is coming, you can also see below image.


So breaking at exact location from where error is coming you can find out which part is actually causing problem and help to resolve error easily.


Conclusion
Visual studio option to locate exception also very helpful when there is multiple threads doing operation and throws exception. Also locate exceptions dialog provide other option that is also help full when you are using JavaScript, com component etc. that you can try by yourself. CodeProject

Handle Exception Carefully

Handle Exception carefully means I am not going to discuss some rocket science about exception handling but I am going to discuss not to shadow the exception in your program. Not going to discuss more I am starting my example

class Program
    {
        static void Main(string[] args)
        {
            try
            {
                Program p = new Program();
                p.MethodA();
            }
            catch (Exception ex)
            {
                Console.WriteLine(ex.Message);
                Console.WriteLine(ex.StackTrace);
            }
            Console.ReadLine();
        }

        public void MethodA()
        {
            try
            {
                MethodB();
            }
            catch (Exception ex)
            {
                throw ex;
            }
        }

        public void MethodB()
        {
            try
            {
                MethodC();
            }
            catch (Exception ex)
            {
                throw ex;
            }
        }

        public void MethodC()
        {
            int a = 10;
            int b = 0;
            int c = 0;
            try
            {
                c = a / b;
            }
            catch (Exception ex)
            {
                throw ex;
            }
        }
    }

When execute the program you will get the following output as result. Yes you can able to handle the exception thrown by the method and displayed on the console.
Output

But the actual thing is you hiding the stack trace and each time you throw the exception by writing throw ex you are creating new stack trace. So you are not able to get the actual path from where the exception get thrown.

Now to understand the thing properly, write the program again and now replace throw ex by the throw

class Program
    {
        static void Main(string[] args)
        {
            try
            {
                Program p = new Program();
                p.MethodA();
            }
            catch (Exception ex)
            {
                Console.WriteLine(ex.Message);
                Console.WriteLine(ex.StackTrace);
            }
            Console.ReadLine();
        }

        public void MethodA()
        {
            try
            {
                MethodB();
            }
            catch
            {
                throw;
            }
        }

        public void MethodB()
        {
            try
            {
                MethodC();
            }
            catch
            {
                throw;
            }
        }

        public void MethodC()
        {
            int a = 10;
            int b = 0;
            int c = 0;
            try
            {
                c = a / b;
            }
            catch
            {
                throw;
            }
        }
    }

When execute the program get the following output
Output

Now as you see when you replace the line there is no new stacktrace get created and you get actual path from where exception get thrown.

Summary
So make use of the throw to get the actual path of the exception rather than using throw ex.

CodeProject