PowerShell - Exception handling

Question

I´m searching for the best way to handling exceptions in PowerShell. In the following example I want to create a new SharePoint web and remove a old SharePoint web. When the New-SPWeb fails, it is necessary that the script ends. I think try/catch is the best way, because the "if" statement only checks if $a exists. Are there still other options to handling exceptions?

Exception handling with "if" statement:

$a = New-SPWeb http://newspweb
if($a -eq $null)
{
Write-Error "Error!"
Exit
}
Write-Host "No Error!"
Remove-SPWeb http://oldspweb

With try/catch:

try
{
$a = New-SPWeb http://newspweb
}
catch
{
Write-Error "Error!"
Exit
}
Write-Host "No Error!"
Remove-SPWeb http://oldspweb

DON'T ever again use the term "if loop" or be prepared to have your developer status questioned. - SCNR — Oliver Giesen
– Oliver Giesen, Commented May 18, 2012 at 10:42

Keith Hill · Accepted Answer · 2011-03-21 18:42:41Z

10

Try/catch is really for handling terminating errors and continuing on. It sounds like you want to stop on a non-terminating error. If that's the case, use the ErrorAction parameter on New-SPWeb and set it to Stop e.g.:

$a = New-SPWeb http://newspweb -ErrorAction Stop

This will convert the non-terminating error into a terminating error.

edited Mar 21, 2011 at 18:42

answered Mar 21, 2011 at 14:39

Keith Hill

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4 Comments

LaPhi Over a year ago

Thanks Keith. This paramter is really helpfull!

Keith Hill Over a year ago

This parameter is one of several "common" parameters found on all cmdlets. Check out the associated help topic man about_CommonParameters.

JasonMArcher Over a year ago

Keith, I think you mean non-terminating errors. Terminating errors will stop anyway. :)

Keith Hill Over a year ago

@JasonMArcher, OK misread your comment at first - yes, that was what I meant. Thanks for pointing that out.

ravikanth · Accepted Answer · 2011-03-21 13:59:41Z

5

Try catch is certainly the right way. But, it will catch only terminating errors. So, if New-SPWeb does not throw a terminating error, you can never catch it. I guess, it results in a terminating error.

BTW, if you want all details about the error, output $_ in catch {}. It will have all error information.

answered Mar 21, 2011 at 13:59

ravikanth

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