Segregating Debug and Release Code in C#

Question

I'm writing an application wherein I have some debug code that I do not wish to delete, but I wish it to be modified or removed when compiling for release/publish. For example, I would like something like this in a debug build:

MessageBox.Show(ex.ToString(), "Error", MessageBoxButtons.OK, MessageBoxIcon.Error);

...to become this in a release build:

MessageBox.Show(ex.Message, "Error", MessageBoxButtons.OK, MessageBoxIcon.Error);

Ideally, I was hoping to do something like this:

#if DEBUG_BUILD
   MessageBox.Show(ex.ToString(), "Error", MessageBoxButtons.OK, MessageBoxIcon.Error);
#else
   MessageBox.Show(ex.Message, "Error", MessageBoxButtons.OK, MessageBoxIcon.Error);
#endif

I would prefer to not have to add/remove a Conditional Compilation Symbol in the project properties every time I change the build type; it should happen automatically. Is there a way to do this in Microsoft Visual C# 2008 Express Edition? Thanks.

Answer 1

Use:

#if DEBUG
  // Debug work here
#else
  // Release work here
#endif

If you do that, just make sure to turn on the "Define DEBUG Constant" toggle in the property pages (Build page of the Project's properties), and it will work. This is set to true by default for new C# projects. DEBUG will get defined for you (by default) by the C# compiler.

Answer 2

You can also use this attribute.

[Conditional("DEBUG")]

This has a couple of advantages over the preprocessor directive.

All calls to methods marked conditional will be replaced with Nops if the conditional symbol isn't defined, which saves you having to modify all calls to it.

Your code will checked for errors even when the symbol is not defined. (Unlike when using #if DEBUG, which ignores the code in #else during compilation)