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a try inside another

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  • L Luc Pattyn

    that is perfectly legal. The outer try-catch will catch whatever gets thrown outside the inner try block, e.g. an exception occurring in the inner finally block. :)

    Luc Pattyn [Forum Guidelines] [My Articles] Nil Volentibus Arduum

    Please use <PRE> tags for code snippets, they preserve indentation, improve readability, and make me actually look at the code.

    A Offline
    A Offline
    Ali Al Omairi Abu AlHassan
    wrote on last edited by
    #7

    this will hide the inner exception of the inner try?

    Help people,so poeple can help you.

    R L 2 Replies Last reply
    0
    • A Ali Al Omairi Abu AlHassan

      this will hide the inner exception of the inner try?

      Help people,so poeple can help you.

      R Offline
      R Offline
      Rick van Woudenberg
      wrote on last edited by
      #8

      Well, if you don't use an inner catch, every exception in both the inner and outer try block, will be caught by the outer catch block.

      1 Reply Last reply
      0
      • R Rick van Woudenberg

        .. euhmm .. debatable I guess. Technically speaking you're right, I agree. But what's the use of a try block without a catch block. The try block contains the guarded code that may cause the exception. The block is executed until an exception is thrown or it is completed successfully. The catch clause can be used without arguments, in which case it catches any type of exception, and referred to as the general catch clause. It can also take an object argument derived from System.Exception, in which case it handles a specific exception. So, keeping all that in mind, I'm hard to convince why you'd want two or more try clauses with just one catch clause, as each try block is examined in order of importance and thus handled by the same catch clause. .. or have I completely lost my mind again.

        P Offline
        P Offline
        Pete OHanlon
        wrote on last edited by
        #9

        Rick van Woudenberg wrote:

        But what's the use of a try block without a catch block.

        To ensure that the exception gets thrown up the chain, AND some critical piece of code gets executed. Consider this example:

        private void DoSomething()
        {
        SqlConnection connection = null;
        try
        {
        connection = new SqlConnection();
        // Do something that might cause an exception...
        }
        finally
        {
        if (connection.ConnectionState == ConnectionState.Open)
        connection.Close();
        }
        }

        BTW, try/finally is exactly how the using statement is implemented for auto-disposable behaviour.

        Forgive your enemies - it messes with their heads

        My blog | My articles | MoXAML PowerToys | Mole 2010 - debugging made easier - my favourite utility

        R V 2 Replies Last reply
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        • P Pete OHanlon

          Rick van Woudenberg wrote:

          But what's the use of a try block without a catch block.

          To ensure that the exception gets thrown up the chain, AND some critical piece of code gets executed. Consider this example:

          private void DoSomething()
          {
          SqlConnection connection = null;
          try
          {
          connection = new SqlConnection();
          // Do something that might cause an exception...
          }
          finally
          {
          if (connection.ConnectionState == ConnectionState.Open)
          connection.Close();
          }
          }

          BTW, try/finally is exactly how the using statement is implemented for auto-disposable behaviour.

          Forgive your enemies - it messes with their heads

          My blog | My articles | MoXAML PowerToys | Mole 2010 - debugging made easier - my favourite utility

          R Offline
          R Offline
          Rick van Woudenberg
          wrote on last edited by
          #10

          Pete, Good point. I guess you're sample is way better than I used to do it. ( see code below ). Other than the obvious thread freezing and just the fact that handling exceptions are 'expensive'.

          private void DoSomething()
          {
          SqlConnection connection = null;
          try
          {
          connection = new SqlConnection();
          // Do something that might cause an exception...
          connection.Open();
          }
          catch
          {
          MessageBox.Show("Connecting to the database failed..");
          }

          if (connection.ConnectionState == ConnectionState.Open)
          connection.Close();
          }

          J 1 Reply Last reply
          0
          • A Ali Al Omairi Abu AlHassan

            this will hide the inner exception of the inner try?

            Help people,so poeple can help you.

            L Offline
            L Offline
            Luc Pattyn
            wrote on last edited by
            #11

            the finally block is always executed, and any exception that gets thrown will be caught by the first surrounding and matching catch block. So the finally block will execute first (unless the catch belongs to the same try as the finally). :)

            Luc Pattyn [Forum Guidelines] [My Articles] Nil Volentibus Arduum

            Please use <PRE> tags for code snippets, they preserve indentation, improve readability, and make me actually look at the code.

            1 Reply Last reply
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            • R Rick van Woudenberg

              Pete, Good point. I guess you're sample is way better than I used to do it. ( see code below ). Other than the obvious thread freezing and just the fact that handling exceptions are 'expensive'.

              private void DoSomething()
              {
              SqlConnection connection = null;
              try
              {
              connection = new SqlConnection();
              // Do something that might cause an exception...
              connection.Open();
              }
              catch
              {
              MessageBox.Show("Connecting to the database failed..");
              }

              if (connection.ConnectionState == ConnectionState.Open)
              connection.Close();
              }

              J Offline
              J Offline
              J4amieC
              wrote on last edited by
              #12

              That code example made me shudder. Separation of concerns; Is the concern database access or User notification, because it sure as hell shouldnt be both.

              R 1 Reply Last reply
              0
              • A Ali Al Omairi Abu AlHassan

                guys; I was exminning some code and i found this:

                try
                {
                    try
                    {
                        ...
                    }
                    finally
                    {
                        ...
                    }
                }
                catch
                {
                    throw;
                }
                

                I am wondering if this is legal. I mean catch anything and trow anything; or maybe it's usefull for something. because the developer who write this code is someone i believe he is an expert. Thank you;

                Help people,so poeple can help you.

                P Offline
                P Offline
                PIEBALDconsult
                wrote on last edited by
                #13

                The outer try/catch in this example is pointless, remove it. If the catch in the outer try/catch actually does something (like log the Exception), then the inner try/finally should be removed and the finally moved out to make the try/catch into a try/catch/finally. Nested try/catches (while sometimes necessary) are a code smell and should be investigated thoroughly. (Or Thoreau[^]ly -- simplify simplify.)

                L J 2 Replies Last reply
                0
                • P PIEBALDconsult

                  The outer try/catch in this example is pointless, remove it. If the catch in the outer try/catch actually does something (like log the Exception), then the inner try/finally should be removed and the finally moved out to make the try/catch into a try/catch/finally. Nested try/catches (while sometimes necessary) are a code smell and should be investigated thoroughly. (Or Thoreau[^]ly -- simplify simplify.)

                  L Offline
                  L Offline
                  Luc Pattyn
                  wrote on last edited by
                  #14

                  PIEBALDconsult wrote:

                  If the catch in the outer try/catch actually does something (like log the Exception), then the inner try/finally should be removed and the finally moved out to make the try/catch into a try/catch/finally.

                  If the catch in the outer try/catch actually does something, then your suggestion would change what happens to exceptions thrown by the finally block itself. :)

                  Luc Pattyn [Forum Guidelines] [My Articles] Nil Volentibus Arduum

                  Please use <PRE> tags for code snippets, they preserve indentation, improve readability, and make me actually look at the code.

                  P 1 Reply Last reply
                  0
                  • P Pete OHanlon

                    Rick van Woudenberg wrote:

                    But what's the use of a try block without a catch block.

                    To ensure that the exception gets thrown up the chain, AND some critical piece of code gets executed. Consider this example:

                    private void DoSomething()
                    {
                    SqlConnection connection = null;
                    try
                    {
                    connection = new SqlConnection();
                    // Do something that might cause an exception...
                    }
                    finally
                    {
                    if (connection.ConnectionState == ConnectionState.Open)
                    connection.Close();
                    }
                    }

                    BTW, try/finally is exactly how the using statement is implemented for auto-disposable behaviour.

                    Forgive your enemies - it messes with their heads

                    My blog | My articles | MoXAML PowerToys | Mole 2010 - debugging made easier - my favourite utility

                    V Offline
                    V Offline
                    V 0
                    wrote on last edited by
                    #15

                    Suppose the line

                    connection = new SqlConnection();

                    fails and connection stays null. Won't you receive a very ugly "unhandled exception" message? (haven't tried it).

                    V.

                    P 1 Reply Last reply
                    0
                    • V V 0

                      Suppose the line

                      connection = new SqlConnection();

                      fails and connection stays null. Won't you receive a very ugly "unhandled exception" message? (haven't tried it).

                      V.

                      P Offline
                      P Offline
                      Pete OHanlon
                      wrote on last edited by
                      #16

                      You will, but the exception will bubble up (actually, in this case you won't get an exception. The zero parameter constructor doesn't do anything that can cause an exception). I deliberately didn't put exception handling in here to avoid clouding the issue.

                      Forgive your enemies - it messes with their heads

                      My blog | My articles | MoXAML PowerToys | Mole 2010 - debugging made easier - my favourite utility

                      1 Reply Last reply
                      0
                      • J J4amieC

                        That code example made me shudder. Separation of concerns; Is the concern database access or User notification, because it sure as hell shouldnt be both.

                        R Offline
                        R Offline
                        Rick van Woudenberg
                        wrote on last edited by
                        #17

                        Well, as far as I'm concerned both would be nice. Sure, the connection to the database has priority over user notification, however when something stuffs up, I generally let the user know. In that particular case I would do something like :

                        private void DoSomething()
                        {
                        SqlConnection connection = null;
                        try
                        {
                        connection = new SqlConnection();
                        // Do something that might cause an exception...
                        connection.Open();
                        }
                        catch(SqlException ex)
                        {
                        MessageBox.Show(ex.ToString(); // or something else to notify the customer
                        }
                        finally
                        {
                        if (connection.ConnectionState == ConnectionState.Open)
                        connection.Close();
                        }
                        }

                        Then you actually have both of two worlds. However, that puts us right back to the essence of this discussion. Having a catch clause in a method is not something to be ashamed of, though I get the feeling that many developers think that way.

                        J D 2 Replies Last reply
                        0
                        • R Rick van Woudenberg

                          Well, as far as I'm concerned both would be nice. Sure, the connection to the database has priority over user notification, however when something stuffs up, I generally let the user know. In that particular case I would do something like :

                          private void DoSomething()
                          {
                          SqlConnection connection = null;
                          try
                          {
                          connection = new SqlConnection();
                          // Do something that might cause an exception...
                          connection.Open();
                          }
                          catch(SqlException ex)
                          {
                          MessageBox.Show(ex.ToString(); // or something else to notify the customer
                          }
                          finally
                          {
                          if (connection.ConnectionState == ConnectionState.Open)
                          connection.Close();
                          }
                          }

                          Then you actually have both of two worlds. However, that puts us right back to the essence of this discussion. Having a catch clause in a method is not something to be ashamed of, though I get the feeling that many developers think that way.

                          J Offline
                          J Offline
                          J4amieC
                          wrote on last edited by
                          #18

                          ahhh, no no no. If your UI code is mixed with your database access code; you're doing it wrong If you show Exception messages unsanitized to your users; you're doing it wrong

                          B R G 3 Replies Last reply
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                          • J J4amieC

                            ahhh, no no no. If your UI code is mixed with your database access code; you're doing it wrong If you show Exception messages unsanitized to your users; you're doing it wrong

                            B Offline
                            B Offline
                            BobJanova
                            wrote on last edited by
                            #19

                            Totally agreed on the first point. But regarding the second, he did mention that he might put something else there. I tend to have something which shows them the exception trace in the critical exception handler, because if there is a serious bug, you (the developer) want that information to fix it. In the case of a database connection failure, though, definitely not, because most of those reasons are not because your software is broken.

                            J 1 Reply Last reply
                            0
                            • B BobJanova

                              Totally agreed on the first point. But regarding the second, he did mention that he might put something else there. I tend to have something which shows them the exception trace in the critical exception handler, because if there is a serious bug, you (the developer) want that information to fix it. In the case of a database connection failure, though, definitely not, because most of those reasons are not because your software is broken.

                              J Offline
                              J Offline
                              J4amieC
                              wrote on last edited by
                              #20

                              BobJanova wrote:

                              you (the developer) want that information to fix it

                              And therein is the point. I want it, but I dont EVER want a user to see it. This is what the Windows Event Log (or, perhaps another type of log) is for. You never have a reason to show a user an unsanitized exception message (caveat: they're programmers and can actually act on the information). There is the potential to give away sensitive information if you do so.

                              P 1 Reply Last reply
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                              • J J4amieC

                                BobJanova wrote:

                                you (the developer) want that information to fix it

                                And therein is the point. I want it, but I dont EVER want a user to see it. This is what the Windows Event Log (or, perhaps another type of log) is for. You never have a reason to show a user an unsanitized exception message (caveat: they're programmers and can actually act on the information). There is the potential to give away sensitive information if you do so.

                                P Offline
                                P Offline
                                Pete OHanlon
                                wrote on last edited by
                                #21

                                J4amieC wrote:

                                This is what the Windows Event Log (or, perhaps another type of log) is for.

                                Or to put it another way - that's what log4net is for. :-D

                                Forgive your enemies - it messes with their heads

                                My blog | My articles | MoXAML PowerToys | Mole 2010 - debugging made easier - my favourite utility

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                                • L Luc Pattyn

                                  PIEBALDconsult wrote:

                                  If the catch in the outer try/catch actually does something (like log the Exception), then the inner try/finally should be removed and the finally moved out to make the try/catch into a try/catch/finally.

                                  If the catch in the outer try/catch actually does something, then your suggestion would change what happens to exceptions thrown by the finally block itself. :)

                                  Luc Pattyn [Forum Guidelines] [My Articles] Nil Volentibus Arduum

                                  Please use <PRE> tags for code snippets, they preserve indentation, improve readability, and make me actually look at the code.

                                  P Offline
                                  P Offline
                                  PIEBALDconsult
                                  wrote on last edited by
                                  #22

                                  Luc Pattyn wrote:

                                  exceptions thrown by the finally block itself.

                                  Of which there are none. or put a try/catch in the finally. :-D

                                  L 1 Reply Last reply
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                                  • P PIEBALDconsult

                                    Luc Pattyn wrote:

                                    exceptions thrown by the finally block itself.

                                    Of which there are none. or put a try/catch in the finally. :-D

                                    L Offline
                                    L Offline
                                    Luc Pattyn
                                    wrote on last edited by
                                    #23

                                    PIEBALDconsult wrote:

                                    Of which there are none

                                    Of course there are, that is exactly what the three dots are standing for. You can't escape nested try constructs if it has to be fool proof... :)

                                    Luc Pattyn [Forum Guidelines] [My Articles] Nil Volentibus Arduum

                                    Please use <PRE> tags for code snippets, they preserve indentation, improve readability, and make me actually look at the code.

                                    P 1 Reply Last reply
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                                    • L Luc Pattyn

                                      PIEBALDconsult wrote:

                                      Of which there are none

                                      Of course there are, that is exactly what the three dots are standing for. You can't escape nested try constructs if it has to be fool proof... :)

                                      Luc Pattyn [Forum Guidelines] [My Articles] Nil Volentibus Arduum

                                      Please use <PRE> tags for code snippets, they preserve indentation, improve readability, and make me actually look at the code.

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                                      PIEBALDconsult
                                      wrote on last edited by
                                      #24

                                      Luc Pattyn wrote:

                                      You can't escape nested try constructs

                                      Sure I can, I'll write a method. And I did say that some times they're necessary. However, taking the least scope route, if you want to protect against Exceptions in a finally (and you shouldn't need too), then put the try/catch there.

                                      1 Reply Last reply
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                                      • P PIEBALDconsult

                                        The outer try/catch in this example is pointless, remove it. If the catch in the outer try/catch actually does something (like log the Exception), then the inner try/finally should be removed and the finally moved out to make the try/catch into a try/catch/finally. Nested try/catches (while sometimes necessary) are a code smell and should be investigated thoroughly. (Or Thoreau[^]ly -- simplify simplify.)

                                        J Offline
                                        J Offline
                                        Jan Holst Jensen2
                                        wrote on last edited by
                                        #25

                                        Pointless with regards to how the code executes, but not pointless if you are debugging. The outer catch block gives you a place to put a breakpoint so you can see when exceptions occur. I expect that is the reason for it. But the outer try-catch block can be safely removed for production code.

                                        P 1 Reply Last reply
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                                        • J J4amieC

                                          ahhh, no no no. If your UI code is mixed with your database access code; you're doing it wrong If you show Exception messages unsanitized to your users; you're doing it wrong

                                          R Offline
                                          R Offline
                                          Rick van Woudenberg
                                          wrote on last edited by
                                          #26

                                          I totally agree with you, and I would never show an exception to a user. Hence the

                                          // or show something else..

                                          , but I still think that you should at least say something when anything important messes up, like .. euhh .. a database connection that fails ? I don't think it's wise to redirect general user messages that could be caused by an exception to the windows logs. Not very user friendly.

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