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Enabling Robust Exceptions

Enabling robust exceptions in ColdFusion to aid in debugging.

Updated over a month ago

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.

  1. Log in to the Windows Control Panel
    US Customers: https://wcp.hostek.com
    UK Customers: https://wcp.hostek.co.uk

  2. Select the appropriate domain from the dropdown menu at the top right

  3. Click the "IIS Settings" link under the "Website Settings" section

  4. Click the "Advanced" tab

  5. Select "Detailed" next to the "Custom Error Mode" label

  6. 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.

  1. Open the "Application.cfc" file in your application or website root folder

  2. 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

  1. Log in to the Windows Control Panel
    US Customers: https://wcp.hostek.com
    UK Customers: https://wcp.hostek.co.uk

  2. Select "Server Manager" from the dropdown menu at top right

  3. Click the "ColdFusion Admin" link within the ColdFusion section

  4. 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

  5. Enter your credentials and click "Login" to proceed

Remote Desktop

  1. Open a new remote desktop connection to your server

  2. Open the browser of your choice from your Windows desktop

  3. 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

  4. Enter your credentials and click "Login" to proceed

Enable Robust Exceptions

  1. On the left sidebar, click on "Debugging & Logging"

  2. Find the checkbox labeled "Robust Exception Information" and check the box to enable it

  3. Click the "Submit Changes" button to save the changes

  4. Restart ColdFusion

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