HandleError attribute doesn't have any effect

Question

In my web.config I have included:

<customErrors mode="On" />

Now the yellow screen of death isn't shown anymore. I thought I'd have to include the HandleError attribute to my controller methods or the class itself:

[HandleError]
public ActionResult About()
{
    throw new Exception("Just an exception");
    return View();
}

But it doesn't have any effect, it's the same as:

public ActionResult About()
{
    throw new Exception("Just an exception");
    return View();
}

In both cases the custom error page is shown. So what is it about the HandleError attribute?

Alvardo

Answer 1

That can happen if FilterConfig.cs, under App_Start folder of the MVC project, contains:

public static void RegisterGlobalFilters(GlobalFilterCollection filters)
{
    filters.Add(new HandleErrorAttribute());
}

Since the HandleError filter is registered when the App starts, you don't have to decorate each controller action with this attribute.

Horsy

An excellent and concise explanation which also answers the question: "What is the purpose of RegisterGlobalFilters?" – Babs

Answer 2

See the following article by Scott Gu. It has all the information about the HandleError attribute http://weblogs.asp.net/scottgu/archive/2008/07/14/asp-net-mvc-preview-4-release-part-1.aspx

Dody