How to get Exception messages without the call stack

Question

I need to get only the exception message without the call stack or any other string.

I thought that using Exception.Message would be enough, but it keeps giving me the message mixed with the call stack. Do you know how to get rid of all the rest of information that comes with Exception.Message?

try
{

}
catch (Exception ex)
{
    ScriptManager.RegisterClientScriptBlock(this, this.GetType(), "Message", "alert('" + ex.Message + "');", true); 
}

This is what I get when I use ex.Message:

System.Web.Services.Protocols.SoapException: The server can not process the request. ---> System.NullReferenceException: Object reference not set to an instance of an object in . in WebService.ProcessRequestArc.............--- End of inner exception stack trace ---

When what I only need is:

The server can not process the request

Is there any way to get only that part of the message?

Answer 1

You are not using the Message property here...

ex.ToString()

You need

ex.Message

Also, is this Alert only for your convenience? You should consider maybe having an error label on your screen, since the pop-up can always look messy.

EDIT: You should also look to catch more specific exceptions, instead of the catch all type of handling you have. Take a look at the possible exceptions in your try block, and accommodate them...for example...

catch (SoapException ex)
    {
         //handle
    }
catch (Exception e)
{
   //handle
}

Make sure the more specific exceptions come before the final Exception block.

Answer 2

Exception.Message is correct for generic Exceptions.

Check out the more detailed info available for SoapException

Here is an example:

namespace ExceptionHandlingTestConsole
{
    class Program
    {
        static void Main(string[] args)
        {
            try
            {
                Console.WriteLine("do something");
            throw new System.Web.Services.Protocols.SoapException();
            //throw new Exception("my exception", new Exception("my inner exception"));
        }
        catch (System.Web.Services.Protocols.SoapException soapEx)
        {
            Console.Write("Detail: ");
            Console.WriteLine(soapEx.Detail);
            Console.Write("Node: ");
            Console.WriteLine(soapEx.Node);
            Console.Write("Role: ");
            Console.WriteLine(soapEx.Role);
            Console.Write("Message: ");
            Console.WriteLine(soapEx.Message);
        }
            catch (Exception ex)
            {
                Console.WriteLine(ex.Message);
                if (ex.InnerException != null)
                {
                    Console.WriteLine("inner exception msg: " + ex.InnerException.Message);
                }
            }
            Console.ReadKey();
        }

    }
}