VBScript -- Using error handling

VBScript has no notion of throwing or catching exceptions, but the runtime provides a global Err object that contains the results of the last operation performed. You have to explicitly check whether the Err.Number property is non-zero after each operation.

On Error Resume Next

DoStep1

If Err.Number <> 0 Then
  WScript.Echo "Error in DoStep1: " & Err.Description
  Err.Clear
End If

DoStep2

If Err.Number <> 0 Then
  WScript.Echo "Error in DoStop2:" & Err.Description
  Err.Clear
End If

'If you no longer want to continue following an error after that block's completed,
'call this.
On Error Goto 0

The "On Error Goto [label]" syntax is supported by Visual Basic and Visual Basic for Applications (VBA), but VBScript doesn't support this language feature so you have to use On Error Resume Next as described above.


Note that On Error Resume Next is not set globally. You can put your unsafe part of code eg into a function, which will interrupted immediately if error occurs, and call this function from sub containing precedent OERN statement.

ErrCatch()

Sub ErrCatch()
    Dim Res, CurrentStep

    On Error Resume Next

    Res = UnSafeCode(20, CurrentStep)
    MsgBox "ErrStep " & CurrentStep & vbCrLf & Err.Description

End Sub

Function UnSafeCode(Arg, ErrStep)

    ErrStep = 1
    UnSafeCode = 1 / (Arg - 10)

    ErrStep = 2
    UnSafeCode = 1 / (Arg - 20)

    ErrStep = 3
    UnSafeCode = 1 / (Arg - 30)

    ErrStep = 0
End Function

You can regroup your steps functions calls in a facade function :

sub facade()
    call step1()
    call step2()
    call step3()
    call step4()
    call step5()
end sub

Then, let your error handling be in an upper function that calls the facade :

sub main()
    On error resume next

    call facade()

    If Err.Number <> 0 Then
        ' MsgBox or whatever. You may want to display or log your error there
        msgbox Err.Description
        Err.Clear
    End If

    On Error Goto 0
end sub

Now, let's suppose step3() raises an error. Since facade() doesn't handle errors (there is no On error resume next in facade()), the error will be returned to main() and step4() and step5() won't be executed.

Your error handling is now refactored in 1 code block