---
title: ErrorDetail
summary: API reference for ErrorDetail.
status: draft
owner: SAIF Documentation
last_reviewed: 2026-08-21
library: SAIF.Services.Printing
reference_type: embedded
---

# ErrorDetail

`ErrorDetail` is the non-throwing failure record `ReportBase` appends to its `Errors` collection when a render
or distribute operation fails ([BR-PRT-010](../../business-rules.md#br-prt-010-non-throwing-render-and-distribute-failures)). It carries a human-readable message and, optionally, the
underlying exception, so callers can inspect what went wrong without the operation throwing.

## Purpose
- Represent a single captured failure from a report's `Render` or `Distribute` call
- Preserve the original exception (when one occurred) alongside a fixed diagnostic message, so callers can
  distinguish "render failed" from "distribute failed" without a stack trace

## Context
- Namespace: `SAIF.Services.Printing.Reporting`
- Assembly/package: `SAIF.Services.Printing` (embedded library, project reference)

## Public members
| Member | Signature | Purpose |
| --- | --- | --- |
| `Message` | `Public ReadOnly Property Message As String` | The diagnostic message associated with this failure |
| `Exception` | `Public ReadOnly Property Exception As Exception` | The underlying exception that was caught, or `Nothing` when constructed with the message-only overload |
| `New(message)` | `Public Sub New(message As String)` | Constructs an error record with only a message, no captured exception |
| `New(message, exception)` | `Public Sub New(message As String, exception As Exception)` | Constructs an error record with both a message and the exception that was caught |

## Behavioral notes
- `ReportBase.Render` and `ReportBase.Distribute` both use the fixed message "An error occurred while rendering
  the report." when catching a render/distribute exception, regardless of which operation actually failed.*

> **Note:** Statements marked with * were inferred from code structure, naming conventions, or
> contextual evidence where direct confirmation was not available in source artifacts.

## Sources
- SAIF.Services.Printing/Reporting/ErrorDetail.vb