End users hate error messages, and rightly so. If an error occurs that your code doesn't handle automatically within <cftry>/<cfcatch> blocks, I usually just display some standard text and don't give them any real information. My goal is always to catch the error using <cftry> and <cfcatch> but I don't think the average user will ever understand the web enough to get what the CF errors are telling them.
John Burns Certified Advanced ColdFusion MX Developer Wyle Laboratories, Inc. | Web Developer -----Original Message----- From: Claremont, Timothy [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Tuesday, June 21, 2005 10:36 AM To: CF-Talk Subject: Designing My Error Message Screen This is a case where I thought I had done a good job, but surveys with end users are proving otherwise! I have a standard error message screen that I display to the end users of my intranet website when things go wrong. This generates an email to me at the time of the error. On the screen it says... "Sorry! An error has occurred on the website that prevents me from completing your request. The administrator has been notified and the problem will be corrected as soon as possible. Please click here to return to your previous page." I then display the typical CF Error information. Since I am a technical mind, I find the error messages to be quite useful and typically let me know what went wrong immediately. The end users, however, have no insight into what the error messages mean, and are probably more intimidated by the error message than anything else. I realize that if I do my job right tne end users will NEVER see an error message, and I am working toward that goal, but in the meantime does anyone have an example of an effective error message that my end users will appreciate and not be intimidated by? TIA, Tim ********************************************************************** This email and any files transmitted with it are confidential and intended solely for the use of the individual or entity to whom they are addressed. If you have received this email in error please delete it from your system. This footnote also confirms that this email message has been swept for the presence of computer viruses. Thank You, Viahealth ********************************************************************** ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~| Logware (www.logware.us): a new and convenient web-based time tracking application. Start tracking and documenting hours spent on a project or with a client with Logware today. Try it for free with a 15 day trial account. http://www.houseoffusion.com/banners/view.cfm?bannerid=67 Message: http://www.houseoffusion.com/lists.cfm/link=i:4:210109 Archives: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/threads.cfm/4 Subscription: http://www.houseoffusion.com/lists.cfm/link=s:4 Unsubscribe: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/unsubscribe.cfm?user=11502.10531.4 Donations & Support: http://www.houseoffusion.com/tiny.cfm/54
