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Troubleshooting Guide: Application Fallback Messages and Unhandled System Exceptions

Distributor troubleshooting for generic fallback error messages and unhandled system exceptions in Encompass: find the triggering action, check outages and config, then send details to support. v26.01+.

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Written by Bailey Naas-Thornton

Minimum Version Required: 26.01

Pre-Conditions

  • Must be using the affected application environment where the fallback message or system issue was observed.

  • Requires an active user session or interaction with the system that triggered the global error handler.

Steps

  • Identify the specific system workflow or action that triggered the generic fallback message.

  • Verify if there is a known critical downstream microservice or resource dependency outage currently impacting the application.

  • Review the system setup for any missing application environment configurations, key vaults, or system secrets that may have been recently altered or omitted.

  • Recognize that the global error handler intentionally suppresses sensitive internal stack details, meaning standard front-end logs may not display the root cause of an unhandled server-side processing error.

  • If the issue persists, please contact support and provide the following information:

    • Exact error messages or codes encountered.

    • Screenshots or video recordings of the issue.

    • Log files (application or server logs, if accessible).

    • The exact steps taken by the customer that led to the issue.

    • The date and time the issue was first observed and any recurrence.

    • Any changes made to the system before the issue appeared.

Fields And Definitions

  • Generic Fallback Message: A standard, user-facing alert designed to mask a real unhandled system exception for security and stability purposes.

  • Unhandled Server-Side Processing Error: An unexpected disruption or failure that occurs on the backend servers while processing a user request or system function.

  • Microservice / Resource Dependency: A downstream internal system, third-party service, or database that the main application relies on to function correctly.

  • Global Error Handler: A system component that catches unexpected errors and intentionally suppresses sensitive internal stack details from being displayed to the end-user.

  • Key Vaults / System Secrets: Secure storage mechanisms for sensitive application environment configurations required for the system to run.

Best Practices

  • Ensure that all application environment configurations and key vaults are properly documented and verified after any deployment or system update to prevent missing credentials.

  • Proactively monitor downstream microservices and dependencies to quickly identify outages before they trigger fallback messages in the primary application.

  • Because internal stack details are suppressed, ensure that backend logging is robustly configured so that support teams can investigate unhandled exceptions safely behind the scenes.

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