Correctly using stacktrace to debug

Question

The following line of code is causing me an Exception

plug.Instance.AddDocuments(new Int32[] { val_pid }, val_ptype, val_doccat, val_subcat, val_doctype, val_notes, val_summary, SummaryAppendOptions.None, val_docStatus, new String[] { PDFFile })

And this is the exception detail.

System.Exception was caught Message=Object reference not set to an instance of an object. - Error when trying to save document Source=SimsBridge StackTrace: at SimsBridge.Bridge.AddDocuments(Int32[] personIds, Int32 PersonType, String docCatagory, Int32 subCatagory, String docType, String notes, String summary, SummaryAppendOptions summaryOptions, String documentStatusCode, String[] filePaths) at ManagedScanDesktop.Form1.SimsScanComplete(String[] files) in C:\Working\ManagedScanDesktop 1.8\v1.8\ManagedScanDesktop\ManagedScanDesktop\Form1.cs:line 2619 InnerException:

I'm not looking for a solution to the actual exception.

My question is, does the stacktrace point to which part of the method doesn't have a reference set? Or is stacktrace just to trace to where the method is called?

Its the second statement you're saying.

Luiggi Mendoza
– Luiggi Mendoza

2012-03-14 17:41:33 +00:00
Commented Mar 14, 2012 at 17:41 — Luiggi Mendoza
– Luiggi Mendoza, Commented Mar 14, 2012 at 17:41

PPC-Coder · Accepted Answer · 2012-03-14 17:42:01Z

4

The stack trace shows you the call stack when an exception is thrown. From what you've provided you can only deduce that an exception was thrown from AddDocuments. Any of the reference type parameters passed in could be null. The best way to pinpoint the problems is to set a breakpoint and than inspect the values.

answered Mar 14, 2012 at 17:42

PPC-Coder

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3 Comments

Arun Over a year ago

If that is the case, why wouldn't the stack trace show the corresponding line inside the "AddDocuments" method?

Kit Fisto Over a year ago

This is correct, I have checked it. The stack trace tells you the function call and the line number where the error occurs, not the line itself. My answer was wrong then.

PPC-Coder Over a year ago

@Arun I think because it's a "call" stack, most likely the exception was thrown during some code that was trying to use a null object so the target method never gets invoked.

Kit Fisto · Accepted Answer · 2012-03-14 17:37:36Z

1

Your stack trace means that either SimsBridge or SimsBridge.Bridge is null.

answered Mar 14, 2012 at 17:37

Kit Fisto

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1 Comment

Luiggi Mendoza Over a year ago

The StackTrace is saying that something inside SimsBridge.Bridge is null

Brian Rasmussen · Accepted Answer · 2012-03-14 17:38:44Z

The message is telling you that somewhere in AddDocuments a null reference exception was thrown. It could be one of the parameters or a member.

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