Exception and Error Handling in Visual Basic

Visual Basic supports structured exception (error) handling, which allows the program to detect and possibly recover from errors during execution. Visual Basic uses an enhanced version of the Try...Catch...Finally syntax already supported by other languages such as C++. Structured exception handling combines a modern control structure (similar to Select Case or While) with exceptions, protected blocks of code, and filters.

Structured exception handling, which is the recommended method of error handling in Visual Basic, makes it easy to create and maintain programs with robust, comprehensive error handlers. Unstructured exception handling using On Error can degrade application performance and result in code that is difficult to debug and maintain.

In This Section

• Introduction to Exception Handling
  Summarizes how to handle exceptions in your programs.

• Choosing When to Use Structured and Unstructured Exception Handling
  Describes both types of exception handling and suggests when they are most appropriate.

• Types of Errors
  Provides an overview of syntax errors, run-time errors, and logic errors.

• Smart Compile Auto Correction
  Describes the Smart Compile Auto Correction feature and how to use it.

• How to: Correct Compiler Errors with Auto Correction
  Shows how to correct compiler errors in the Code Editor through the Smart Compile Auto Correction feature.

• Configuring Warnings in Visual Basic
  Details how to turn compiler warnings on and off in Visual Basic.

• Structured Exception Handling Overview for Visual Basic
  Discusses and demonstrates structured exception handling in Visual Basic.

• Unstructured Exception Handling Overview
  Discusses and demonstrates unstructured exception handling in Visual Basic.

Related Sections

• Language Changes for Visual Basic 6.0 Users
  Summarizes language element changes in Visual Basic.

• Debugger Roadmap
  Discusses the fundamentals of using the Visual Studio debugger. Topics include debugging basics, execution control, attaching to a running program, Just-In-Time debugging, launching the debugger automatically, dumps, breakpoints, inspecting your program, handling exceptions, Edit and Continue, and using expressions in the debugger.

• Just-In-Time Debugging
  Describes just-in-time debugging, a feature that launches the Visual Studio debugger automatically when a program running outside Visual Studio encounters a fatal error.

• Debugging Managed Code
  Covers common debugging problems and techniques for managed applications.

• Exception Assistant
  Describes the Exception Assistant feature, which facilitates troubleshooting run-time errors.

• Edit and Continue
  Describes Edit and Continue, a time-saving feature that allows you to make changes to source code while the program is in break mode.

• COM and ActiveX Debugging
  Provides tips on debugging COM applications and ActiveX controls.