I noticed we were getting a few keyword hits on error/exception report generation and sending error reports via email, so I have decided that today's entry will be just that. Below, you will find the code necessary for generating an email containing an error (exception) report using global.asax.

Firstly, enter this code in to the appropriate area, within global.asax file:
NOTE: Sorry about the poor formating.


void Application_Error(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
Exception exception = Server.GetLastError().GetBaseException();

System.Text.StringBuilder sbMessage = new System.Text.StringBuilder();
sbMessage.Append("<dl style=\"font-face: Arial; font-weight: normal; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px;\">");
sbMessage.Append("<dt style=\"font-weight: bold;\">Source:</dt>");
sbMessage.AppendFormat("<dd>{0}</dd>", exception.Source);
sbMessage.Append("<dt style=\"font-weight: bold;\">Date and Time:</dt>");
sbMessage.AppendFormat("<dd>{0}</dd>", DateTime.Now.ToString("MM/dd/yyyy h:mm tt"));
sbMessage.Append("<dt style=\"font-weight: bold;\">Message:</dt>");
sbMessage.AppendFormat("<dd>{0}</dd>", exception.Message);
sbMessage.Append("<dt style=\"font-weight: bold;\">Stack Trace:</dt>");
sbMessage.AppendFormat("<dd>{0}</dd>", exception.StackTrace);
sbMessage.Append("</dl>");

using (System.Net.Mail.MailMessage mailMessage = new System.Net.Mail.MailMessage())
{
mailMessage.From = new System.Net.Mail.MailAddress(ConfigurationManager.AppSettings["emailWebsite"].ToString());
mailMessage.To.Add(new System.Net.Mail.MailAddress(ConfigurationManager.AppSettings["emailInformation"].ToString()));
mailMessage.Subject = "[ERROR] Unhandled Exception from the Website";
mailMessage.Body = sbMessage.ToString();
mailMessage.IsBodyHtml = true;

System.Net.Mail.SmtpClient smtpClient = new System.Net.Mail.SmtpClient();
smtpClient.Host = ConfigurationManager.AppSettings["mailServerOutgoing"].ToString());
smtpClient.Credentials = new System.Net.NetworkCredential(ConfigurationManager.AppSettings["emailWebsite"].ToString(), ConfigurationManager.AppSettings["emailWebsitePassword"].ToString());
smtpClient.Send(mailMessage);
}
}


Once this is completed, and modified to specification, we must add the following definitions to the web.config (in the appSettings element):


<appsettings>
<add key="mailServerOutgoing" value="mail.your-server-address.com">
<add key="emailWebsite" value="mailer@your-server-address.com">
<add key="emailWebsitePassword" value="your-mailer-password">
<add key="emailInformation" value="receiving@your-server-address.com">
</appsettings>


This allows us to keep important information, such as email accounts and passwords, separate from the codebehind file, and is thus moderately more secure.

And that is all there is to it! All we ask is that if you use our code, just take a few moments and digg this entry.