WCF custom fault exception not caught correctly in client

Question

I'm trying to create some custom FaultException. I've made a DataContract class called CreateFault.

[DataContract]
public class CreateFault
{
    private string report;

    public CreateFault(string message)
    {
        this.report = message;
    }

    [DataMember]
    public string Message
    {
        get { return this.report; }
        set { this.report = value; }
    }
}

I'm then throwing the fault in a service method.

In IService1.cs

[OperationContract]
[FaultContract(typeof(CreateFault))]
void TestFaultException();

and in Service1.cs

public void TestFaultException()
{
    throw new FaultException<CreateFault>(new CreateFault("CreateFault message"), "Message abt exception");
}

I catch the FaultException in my client.

private void btnTest_Click(object sender, RoutedEventArgs e)
{
    try
    {
        ServiceReference1.Service1Client client = new ServiceReference1.Service1Client();
        client.TestFaultException();
    }
    catch (FaultException<CreateFault> ex)
    {
        MessageBox.Show(ex.Detail.Message, "Success", MessageBoxButton.OK, MessageBoxImage.Error);
    }
    catch (FaultException ex)
    {
        MessageBox.Show(ex.Message, "Failure", MessageBoxButton.OK, MessageBoxImage.Error);
    }
    catch (Exception ex)
    {
    }
}

Now here comes the problem. When I create a WCF Service Application project in Visual Studio 2010 it works like expected. The error is caught in:

catch (FaultException<CreateFault> ex)

But when I create a WCF Service Library project with my custom FaultExceptions the client does not recognize my custom exception. It instead catches the error in:

catch (FaultException ex)

Why does it not work with WCF Service Application Project?

Edit: This is what i get during debugging when it catches the exception in

catch (FaultException ex)

(typed ?ex in Immediate window)

{"Message abt exception"}

[System.ServiceModel.FaultException<WpfApplication1.ServiceReference2.CreateFault>]: {"Message abt exception"}
base {System.ServiceModel.CommunicationException}: {"Message abt exception"}
Action: "http://tempuri.org/IService1/TestFaultExceptionCreateFaultFault"
Code: {System.ServiceModel.FaultCode}
Message: "Message abt exception"
Reason: {Message abt exception}

Edit2:

Found the problem. I had two Service references who both had the CreateFault DataContract. And it was using the wrong one when i ran the program.

When i changed to

catch (FaultException<ServiceReference2.CreateFault> ex) 

it worked

Cordwain

By all accounts it should catch the exception. Could you check if the catch exception is a generic "FaultException<Type>" or just "FaultException". – Erastianism

this is what i get when i type ?ex in Immediate Window ?ex {"Message abt exception"} [System.ServiceModel.FaultException<WpfApplication1.ServiceReference2.CreateFault>]: {"Message abt exception"} base {System.ServiceModel.CommunicationException}: {"Message abt exception"} Action: "tempuri.org/IService1/TestFaultExceptionCreateFaultFault" Code: {System.ServiceModel.FaultCode} Message: "Message abt exception" Reason: {Message abt exception} – Sapling

Found the problem. I had two Service references who both had the CreateFault DataContract. And it was using the wrong one when i ran the program. When i changed to catch (FaultException<ServiceReference2.CreateFault> ex) it worked – Sapling

Could you add your solution as an answer and mark it as the accepted answer please? That way, we can all see that the question has been answered (and you might get votes for it :-)) – Jessalin

ok, will do. Just have to wait until tomorrow until i am allowed to press accept as answer – Sapling

Answer 1

Found the problem. I had two Service references who both had the CreateFault DataContract. And it was using the wrong one when i ran the program.

When i changed to

catch (FaultException<ServiceReference2.CreateFault> ex) 

it worked

Cordwain