# Error log for views?

**URL:** <https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/error-log-for-views/64372>\
**Category:** Rails\
**Created:** [June 24, 2006, 9:10pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/error-log-for-views/64372 "2006-06-24T21:10:57Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![jfoxny](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/j/a6a055/32.png) [@jfoxny](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/jfoxny)\
**Post date:** [June 24, 2006, 9:10pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/error-log-for-views/64372/1 "2006-06-24T21:10:57Z")

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This may be a bonehead question, but when I have some error in a view  
I’m testing, the server spits out a generic page:

"Application error

Change this error message for exceptions thrown outside of an action  
(like in Dispatcher setups or broken Ruby code) in public/500.html"

This is pretty unhelpful when I’m debugging. Is there an error log  
for Rails overall or for view errors specifically? Or is there some  
erb code I can insert into 500.html to show me the exact error  
message being generated?

Thanks!

## -Jason

Jason F. - removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid - [http://www.seethroo.us/](http://www.seethroo.us/)  
work: (310) 601-8454  
cell: (415) 254-4890  
AIM/Skype: jfrankov

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![jfoxny](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/j/a6a055/32.png) [@jfoxny](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/jfoxny)\
**Post date:** [June 24, 2006, 9:26pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/error-log-for-views/64372/2 "2006-06-24T21:26:25Z")

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(if you’re using webrick) look in the log folder + development.log if  
you’re in development mode.

cheers,Jodi

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![jfoxny](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/j/a6a055/32.png) [@jfoxny](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/jfoxny)\
**Post date:** [June 24, 2006, 9:26pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/error-log-for-views/64372/3 "2006-06-24T21:26:34Z")

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On 6/24/06, Jason F. [removed\_email\_address@domain.invalid](mailto:removed_email_address@domain.invalid) wrote:

> This may be a bonehead question, but when I have some error in a view  
> I’m testing, the server spits out a generic page:
> 
> "Application error
> 
> Change this error message for exceptions thrown outside of an action  
> (like in Dispatcher setups or broken Ruby code) in public/500.html"

Are you running in development mode? Since what you’re getting is the  
default output in production mode, and in development mode you should  
get the detailed output you desire (but wouldn’t want your customers  
to see).

Also, all errors (and generally everything important) is logged in  
RAILS\_ROOT/.log