MVC Gobal error handling: Application_Error not firing

Question

I am attempting to implement gobal error handeling, in my MVC application.

I have some logic inside my Application_Error that redirects to an ErrorController, but its not working.

I have a break point inside my Application_Error method in the the Global.aspx.

When I force an exception the break point is not being hit. Any idea why?

Answer 1

Debugger just can't step into this method (instead it should break on a line which caused an exception). Use this for testing:

protected void Application_Error(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
    var error = Server.GetLastError();
    Server.ClearError();
    Response.ContentType = "text/plain";
    Response.Write(error ?? (object) "unknown");
    Response.End();
}

Web.config

<customErrors mode="Off" />

• Rich Custom Error Handling with ASP.NET
• How to: Handle Application-Level Errors

Answer 2

I can't tell you for sure what's wrong, but I can think of a couple of things to check... firstly, is VS breaking on the exception? If you are in the debugger this is the default I think. If it is just hit F5 until you get to your code with the breakpoint. Also, are you sure you don't handle the exception anywhere before it gets to Application_Error?

Another thing to check - CustomErrors mode in web.config, this is set to Off, right?

Answer 3

I think a better way to handle this would be using the HandleErrorAttribute to decorate your controller (perhaps a base controller). This would give you the option to do logging or handle errors in different controllers with different errors by extending this attribute and modifying it to fit your needs, say by changing the view that gets rendered. Using this attribute uses the standard filter processing in MVC and builds the page using views rather than writing directly to the response as you might do using Application_Error.

Answer 4

Actually the debugger CAN step into the Application_Error method.