Robust exception information can be critical in resolving an exception being thrown within ColdFusion on your website. This feature is meant to point you to the specific aspect of your application that is throwing the exception.

Enabling Detailed Error Mode

As a prerequisite to enabling robust exceptions, you must first ensure that Detailed Errors are enabled within IIS. This can be accomplished from your Windows Control Panel using the following instructions.

Log in to the Windows Control Panel
US Customers: https://wcp.hostek.com
UK Customers: https://wcp.hostek.co.uk
Select the appropriate domain from the dropdown menu at the top right
Click the "IIS Settings" link under the "Website Settings" section
Click the "Advanced" tab
Select "Detailed" next to the "Custom Error Mode" label
Click "Save" to save your changes

Enable Robust Exceptions Per Application (VPS & Shared)

Enabling robust exceptions for a single application or website is the recommend approach for security reasons.

Open the "Application.cfc" file in your application or website root folder
Add or update the following line of code in your file
```
<cfset this.enablerobustexception = true />
```

If your application or website uses an Application.cfm file instead (or does not use either), you'll need to create the Application.cfc file with the following code.

<cfcomponent displayname="YourAppName" output="true">
    <cfset THIS.Name = "Debugging" />
    <cfset this.enablerobustexception = true />
</cfcomponent>

Enable Robust Exceptions Server-Wide (VPS Only)

Enabling robust exceptions for all websites on a server can be accomplished using the following instructions.

Log In to ColdFusion Administrator

You'll first need to login to the ColdFusion Administrator. This can be done either from the Windows Control Panel or via remote desktop.

Windows Control Panel

Log in to the Windows Control Panel
US Customers: https://wcp.hostek.com
UK Customers: https://wcp.hostek.co.uk
Select "Server Manager" from the dropdown menu at top right
Click the "ColdFusion Admin" link within the ColdFusion section
Click the "Login" button underneath the "CF Admin" column
Note: If you haven't logged in recently or your IP address has changed, you may need to whitelist your IP address for access using the pencil (Edit) button under the "Allowed IPs" column
Enter your credentials and click "Login" to proceed

Remote Desktop

Open a new remote desktop connection to your server
Open the browser of your choice from your Windows desktop
Navigate to the Coldfusion Administrator URL
CF2023: http://127.0.0.1:8523/CFIDE/administrator
CF2021: http://127.0.0.1:8521/CFIDE/administrator
CF2018: http://127.0.0.1:8518/CFIDE/administrator
Default/Alternative: http://127.0.0.1:8500/CFIDE/administrator
Enter your credentials and click "Login" to proceed

Enable Robust Exceptions

On the left sidebar, click on "Debugging & Logging"
Find the checkbox labeled "Robust Exception Information" and check the box to enable it
Click the "Submit Changes" button to save the changes
Restart ColdFusion

Enabling Robust Exceptions