# Limiting error output / exception depth in win\_powershell failed tasks

**URL:** <https://forum.ansible.com/t/limiting-error-output-exception-depth-in-win-powershell-failed-tasks/40305>\
**Category:** Get Help\
**Tags:** powershell, windows, galaxy-ng\
**Created:** [February 17, 2025, 1:00pm UTC](https://forum.ansible.com/t/limiting-error-output-exception-depth-in-win-powershell-failed-tasks/40305 "2025-02-17T13:00:15Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![cruscio](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/ansible/user_avatar/forum.ansible.com/cruscio/32/435_2.png) [@cruscio](https://forum.ansible.com/u/cruscio)\
**Post date:** [February 17, 2025, 1:00pm UTC](https://forum.ansible.com/t/limiting-error-output-exception-depth-in-win-powershell-failed-tasks/40305/1 "2025-02-17T13:00:15Z")

</div>

If you run an `ansible.windows.win_powershell` task that causes an error parameterizing a `[System.Data.CommandType]::StoredProcedure`, the resulting task output will be 2MB of text per host. Is there a way to limit the error payload of a win\_powershell task?

SQL isn’t really relevant here. I’m not sure how to generate an example that _doesn’t_ require a SQL server connection though.

The gist of my question is - can the output/error be caught/managed in PowerShell, to return only what’s desired - not the whole script, not the whole error/exception?

**Ansible Version**

```auto
~/c/a/T/ansible ❯❯❯ ansible --version
ansible [core 2.18.1]
  config file = /home/cruscio/code/alm/TW-DevOps-pwshwebmsi/ansible/ansible.cfg
  configured module search path = ['/home/cruscio/.ansible/plugins/modules', '/usr/share/ansible/plugins/modules']
  ansible python module location = /home/cruscio/.local/pipx/venvs/ansible/lib/python3.11/site-packages/ansible
  ansible collection location = /home/cruscio/.ansible/collections:/usr/share/ansible/collections
  executable location = /home/cruscio/.local/bin/ansible
  python version = 3.11.2 (main, Nov 30 2024, 21:22:50) [GCC 12.2.0] (/home/cruscio/.local/pipx/venvs/ansible/bin/python)
  jinja version = 3.1.2
  libyaml = True
~/c/a/T/ansible ❯❯❯ ansible-galaxy collection list | grep "windows"
ansible.windows 2.5.0  
community.windows 2.3.0

```

**Playbook**

```auto
---
- name: "Too Many MB of error log"
  hosts: tw_sql_primary
  tasks:

    - name: Execute a failing SQL stored procedure
      # Use System.Data.SqlClient so we can parameterize the call
      # And for consistent behavior:
      # - We don't know what version of Invoke-SQLCMD is available
      # - and we're not allowed to change/update the SQL PowerShell module
      ansible.windows.win_powershell:
        error_action: stop
        script: |
          $SqlConnection = New-Object System.Data.SqlClient.SqlConnection
          $SqlConnection.ConnectionString = @(
            "Server = $ServerName"
            'Database = TWCommon'
            'Integrated Security = True'
          ) -join '; '

          try {
            $SqlConnection.Open()

            $SqlCmd = New-Object System.Data.SqlClient.SqlCommand
            $SqlCmd.Connection = $SqlConnection
            $SqlCmd.CommandType = [System.Data.CommandType]::StoredProcedure

            $SqlCmd.CommandText = 'dbo.StoredProcedureThatDoesntExist'
            #This causes a (relatively massive exception payload:
            $SqlCmd.Parameters.AddWithValue('@somevar', 'Foo') 

            $SqlCmd.ExecuteNonQuery()
          }
          catch {
            $Error.Clear()
            # Tried to limit the output in Ansible by clearing $Error
            # That didn't work
            Write-Error "Well, that didn't work"
          }
          finally {
            $SqlConnection.Close()
          }

```

**Log**

```auto
2025-02-17 12:45:42,564 p=3104600 u=cruscio n=ansible INFO| PLAY [Too Many MB of error log] 
2025-02-17 12:45:42,633 p=3104600 u=cruscio n=ansible INFO| TASK [Gathering Facts] 
2025-02-17 12:45:42,633 p=3104600 u=cruscio n=ansible INFO| Monday 17 February 2025 12:45:42 +0000 (0:00:00.070) 0:00:00.070 ******* 
2025-02-17 12:45:44,556 p=3104600 u=cruscio n=ansible INFO| ok: [my.sql.server.local]
2025-02-17 12:45:44,562 p=3104600 u=cruscio n=ansible INFO| TASK [Execute a failing SQL stored procedure] 
2025-02-17 12:45:44,562 p=3104600 u=cruscio n=ansible INFO| Monday 17 February 2025 12:45:44 +0000 (0:00:01.929) 0:00:02.000 ******* 
2025-02-17 12:45:50,383 p=3104600 u=cruscio n=ansible INFO| fatal: [my.sql.server.local]: FAILED! => changed=true 
  debug: []
  error:
  - category_info:
      activity: Write-Error
      category: NotSpecified
      category_id: 0
      reason: WriteErrorException
      target_name: ''
      target_type: ''
    error_details: null
    exception:
      help_link: null
      hresult: -2146233087
      inner_exception: null
      message: Well, that didn't work
      source: null
      type: Microsoft.PowerShell.Commands.WriteErrorException
    fully_qualified_error_id: Microsoft.PowerShell.Commands.WriteErrorException
    output: |-
      $SqlConnection = New-Object System.Data.SqlClient.SqlConnection
      $SqlConnection.ConnectionString = @(
        "Server = $ServerName"
        'Database = TWCommon'
        'Integrated Security = True'
      ) -join '; '
  
      try {
        $SqlConnection.Open()
  
        $SqlCmd = New-Object System.Data.SqlClient.SqlCommand
        $SqlCmd.Connection = $SqlConnection
        $SqlCmd.CommandType = [System.Data.CommandType]::StoredProcedure
        $SqlCmd.CommandText = 'dbo.StoredProcedureThatDoesntExist'
        $SqlCmd.Parameters.AddWithValue('@somevar', 'Foo')
        $SqlCmd.ExecuteNonQuery()
      }
      catch {
        $Error.Clear()
        # Tried to limit the output in Ansible by clearing $Error
        # That didn't work
        Write-Error "Well, that didn't work"
      }
      finally {
        $SqlConnection.Close()
      }
       : Well, that didn't work
      At line:22 char:3
      + Write-Error "Well, that didn't work"
      + ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
          + CategoryInfo : NotSpecified: (:) [Write-Error], WriteErrorException
          + FullyQualifiedErrorId : Microsoft.PowerShell.Commands.WriteErrorException
    pipeline_iteration_info:
    - 0
    - 0
    script_stack_trace: 'at <ScriptBlock>, <No file>: line 22'
    target_object: null
  host_err: ''
  host_out: ''
  information: []
  output:
  - CompareInfo:
      String: None
      Type: System.Data.SqlTypes.SqlCompareOptions
      Value: 0
    DbType:
      String: String
      Type: System.Data.DbType
      Value: 16
    Direction:
      String: Input
      Type: System.Data.ParameterDirection
      Value: 1
    ForceColumnEncryption: false
    IsNullable: false
    LocaleId: 0
    Offset: 0
    ParameterName: '@somevar'
    Precision: 0
    Scale: 0
    Size: 3
    SourceColumn: ''
    SourceColumnNullMapping: false
    SourceVersion:
      String: Current
      Type: System.Data.DataRowVersion
      Value: 512
    SqlDbType:
      String: NVarChar
      Type: System.Data.SqlDbType
      Value: 12
    SqlValue:
      CompareInfo:
        LCID: 1033
        Name: en-US
        Version:
          FullVersion: 394243
          SortId: 00000001-57ee-1e5c-00b4-d0000bb1e11e
      CultureInfo:
        Calendar:
          AlgorithmType: 1
          CalendarType: 1
          Eras:
          - 1
          IsReadOnly: true
          MaxSupportedDateTime: /Date(253402300799999)/
          MinSupportedDateTime: /Date(-62135596800000)/
          TwoDigitYearMax: 2049
        CompareInfo:
          LCID: 1033
          Name: en-US
          Version:
            FullVersion: 394243
            SortId: 00000001-57ee-1e5c-00b4-d0000bb1e11e
        CultureTypes: 70
        DateTimeFormat:
          AMDesignator: AM
          AbbreviatedDayNames:
          - Sun
          - Mon
          - Tue
          - Wed
          - Thu
          - Fri
          - Sat
          AbbreviatedMonthGenitiveNames:
          - Jan
          - Feb
          - Mar
          - Apr
          - May
          - Jun
          - Jul
          - Aug
          - Sep
          - Oct
          - Nov
          - Dec
          - ''
          AbbreviatedMonthNames:
          - Jan
          - Feb
          - Mar
          - Apr
          - May
          - Jun
          - Jul
          - Aug
          - Sep
          - Oct
          - Nov
          - Dec
          - ''
          Calendar:
            AlgorithmType: 1
            CalendarType: 1
            Eras:
            - 1
            IsReadOnly: true
            MaxSupportedDateTime: /Date(253402300799999)/
            MinSupportedDateTime: /Date(-62135596800000)/
            TwoDigitYearMax: 2049
          CalendarWeekRule: 0
          DateSeparator: /
          DayNames:
          - Sunday
          - Monday
          - Tuesday
          - Wednesday
          - Thursday
          - Friday
          - Saturday
          FirstDayOfWeek: 0
          FullDateTimePattern: dddd, MMMM d, yyyy h:mm:ss tt
          IsReadOnly: true
          LongDatePattern: dddd, MMMM d, yyyy
          LongTimePattern: h:mm:ss tt
          MonthDayPattern: MMMM d
          MonthGenitiveNames:
          - January
          - February
          - March
          - April
          - May
          - June
          - July
          - August
          - September
          - October
          - November
          - December
          - ''
          MonthNames:
          - January
          - February
          - March
          - April
          - May
          - June
          - July
          - August
          - September
          - October
          - November
          - December
          - ''
          NativeCalendarName: Gregorian Calendar
          PMDesignator: PM
          RFC1123Pattern: ddd, dd MMM yyyy HH':'mm':'ss 'GMT'
          ShortDatePattern: M/d/yyyy
          ShortTimePattern: h:mm tt
          ShortestDayNames:
          - Su
          - Mo
          - Tu
          - We
          - Th
          - Fr
          - Sa
          SortableDateTimePattern: yyyy'-'MM'-'dd'T'HH':'mm':'ss
          TimeSeparator: ':'
          UniversalSortableDateTimePattern: yyyy'-'MM'-'dd HH':'mm':'ss'Z'
          YearMonthPattern: MMMM yyyy
        DisplayName: English (United States)
        EnglishName: English (United States)
        IetfLanguageTag: en-US
        IsNeutralCulture: false
        IsReadOnly: true
        KeyboardLayoutId: 1033
        LCID: 1033
        Name: en-US
        NativeName: English (United States)
        NumberFormat:
          CurrencyDecimalDigits: 2
          CurrencyDecimalSeparator: .
          CurrencyGroupSeparator: ','
          CurrencyGroupSizes:
          - 3
          CurrencyNegativePattern: 0
          CurrencyPositivePattern: 0
          CurrencySymbol: $
          DigitSubstitution: 1
          IsReadOnly: true
          NaNSymbol: NaN
          NativeDigits:
          - '0'
          - '1'
          - '2'
          - '3'
          - '4'
          - '5'
          - '6'
          - '7'
          - '8'
          - '9'
          NegativeInfinitySymbol: -∞
          NegativeSign: '-'
          NumberDecimalDigits: 2
          NumberDecimalSeparator: .
          NumberGroupSeparator: ','
          NumberGroupSizes:
          - 3
          NumberNegativePattern: 1
          PerMilleSymbol: ‰
          PercentDecimalDigits: 2
          PercentDecimalSeparator: .
          PercentGroupSeparator: ','
          PercentGroupSizes:
          - 3
          PercentNegativePattern: 1
          PercentPositivePattern: 1
          PercentSymbol: '%'
          PositiveInfinitySymbol: ∞
          PositiveSign: +
        OptionalCalendars:
        - AlgorithmType: 1
          CalendarType: 1
          Eras:
          - 1
          IsReadOnly: false
          MaxSupportedDateTime: /Date(253402300799999)/
          MinSupportedDateTime: /Date(-62135596800000)/
          TwoDigitYearMax: 2049
        - AlgorithmType: 1
          CalendarType: 2
          Eras:
          - 1
          IsReadOnly: false
          MaxSupportedDateTime: /Date(253402300799999)/
          MinSupportedDateTime: /Date(-62135596800000)/
          TwoDigitYearMax: 2049
        Parent:
          Calendar:
            AlgorithmType: 1
            CalendarType: 1
            Eras:
            - 1
            IsReadOnly: false
            MaxSupportedDateTime: /Date(253402300799999)/
            MinSupportedDateTime: /Date(-62135596800000)/
            TwoDigitYearMax: 2049
          CompareInfo:
            LCID: 9
            Name: en
            Version:
              FullVersion: 394243
              SortId: 00000001-57ee-1e5c-00b4-d0000bb1e11e
          CultureTypes: 69
          DateTimeFormat:
            AMDesignator: AM
            AbbreviatedDayNames:
            - Sun
            - Mon
            - Tue
            - Wed
            - Thu
            - Fri
            - Sat
            AbbreviatedMonthGenitiveNames:
            - Jan
            - Feb
            - Mar
            - Apr
            - May
            - Jun
            - Jul
            - Aug
            - Sep
            - Oct
            - Nov
            - Dec
            - ''
            AbbreviatedMonthNames:
            - Jan
            - Feb
            - Mar
            - Apr
            - May
            - Jun
            - Jul
            - Aug
            - Sep
            - Oct
            - Nov
            - Dec
            - ''
            Calendar:
              AlgorithmType: 1
              CalendarType: 1
              Eras:
              - 1
              IsReadOnly: false
              MaxSupportedDateTime: /Date(253402300799999)/
              MinSupportedDateTime: /Date(-62135596800000)/
              TwoDigitYearMax: 2049
[... continues on for 20000 lines ...]]

```

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![jborean](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/ansible/user_avatar/forum.ansible.com/jborean/32/1525_2.png) [@jborean](https://forum.ansible.com/u/jborean)\
**Post date:** [February 17, 2025, 4:30pm UTC](https://forum.ansible.com/t/limiting-error-output-exception-depth-in-win-powershell-failed-tasks/40305/2 "2025-02-17T16:30:00Z")

</div>

The [SqlParameterCollection.AddWithValue(…)](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/dotnet/api/system.data.sqlclient.sqlparametercollection.addwithvalue?view=net-9.0-pp#system-data-sqlclient-sqlparametercollection-addwithvalue(system-string-system-object)) method returns a [SqlParameter](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/dotnet/api/system.data.sqlclient.sqlparameter?view=net-9.0-pp) object which is being included in the output.

```auto
public System.Data.SqlClient.SqlParameter AddWithValue (string parameterName, object value);

```

To avoid this you need to null out the output of this method which can be done in a myriad of ways

```powershell
$null = $SqlCmd.Parameters.AddWithValue('@somevar', 'Foo') 
$SqlCmd.Parameters.AddWithValue('@somevar', 'Foo') | Out-Null
$SqlCmd.Parameters.AddWithValue('@somevar', 'Foo') > $null
[void]$SqlCmd.Parameters.AddWithValue('@somevar', 'Foo') 

```

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![cruscio](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/ansible/user_avatar/forum.ansible.com/cruscio/32/435_2.png) [@cruscio](https://forum.ansible.com/u/cruscio)\
**Post date:** [February 17, 2025, 5:22pm UTC](https://forum.ansible.com/t/limiting-error-output-exception-depth-in-win-powershell-failed-tasks/40305/3 "2025-02-17T17:22:28Z")

</div>

TYSM. I was so focused on error handling and Ansible return handling that I forgot PowerShell basics. Thank you!

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![system](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/ansible/original/1X/1882d9a01da5d8996a862359b0913cc568a39b84.svg) [@system](https://forum.ansible.com/u/system)\
**Post date:** [March 19, 2025, 5:22pm UTC](https://forum.ansible.com/t/limiting-error-output-exception-depth-in-win-powershell-failed-tasks/40305/4 "2025-03-19T17:22:46Z")

</div>

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