Greg

> Absolutely not! I am saying that it is unreasonable for MS Word to do
> anything other than abort if the user provides a false path in the open
> dialog. What is the programmer supposed to do?

PMFJI...but I agree with Kristofer.  In the case you describe, MS provides
an informational message saying that the file path is invalid and then
offers a suggestion to correct the problem.  This type of action does not
require exception handling to accomplish.  When you acknowledge the message
with the OK button, the program takes you right to where you left off to try
again.


I don't think that the need for user intervention automatically means
exception handling.  For one thing, I have had to clean up code where the
developer passes the cryptic exception message up to the user, who then has
to call for tech support...and no one wins.


Also, I think there are too many cases where info or error message explains
to the user exactly what to do, where instead the program could have done
that task instead.  Even in the example above, if you give a program an
invalid path, did the user have the opportunity to input a default path so
that this can be used?  Can the MRU be more helpful?


Joe