dotnet/wpf · error · ArgumentException

SR.GetResourceString(reason)

Error message

SR.GetResourceString(reason)

What it means

Misc.ValidateArgument(cond, reason) throws ArgumentException with the resource string named by 'reason' when the condition is false. It lets UIA client code validate arguments with specific localized error messages identified by resource string names.

Solutions

1. Read the resolved message to identify which precondition failed and correct the argument accordingly.
2. Validate the argument against the API's documented contract before the call.
3. Search the SR resource table for the 'reason' key to see the exact validation rule.

// Validate precondition described by the resource key before calling
Debug.Assert(cond, reason);

try { uiaApi.Call(arg); }
catch (ArgumentException ex) { MapResourceMessageToFix(ex.Message, arg); }

When it happens

Trigger: Calling a UIAutomationClient API whose argument validation fails (condition false); the 'reason' string is the SR resource key describing the failed check.

Common situations: Passing arguments that violate a specific documented precondition of a UIA client API (e.g., wrong pattern type, malformed identifier); the message text maps back to which precondition failed.

Understand the failure class

Background: "Must be a positive integer", "Invalid value", "Unsupported": the invalid-argument-value error family, when a library rejects the value you pass — this error's family across 35 libraries.

Related errors

• ' ' is not a valid value for this control.
• E_INVALIDARG
• name
• Operation cannot be performed.
• SR.BeginEndTextContainerMismatch

AI-assisted analysis of dotnet/wpf@81131a70a4 (2026-09-14). Data as JSON: /api/errors/0eb3e4d4dd69ef16. Report an issue: GitHub.

Appendix: source

Thrown at src/Microsoft.DotNet.Wpf/src/UIAutomation/UIAutomationClient/MS/Internal/Automation/Misc.cs:174

            }
        }

        #endregion Interface & Property Wrapping

        #region Param validation & Error related

        // Throw an argument Exception with a generic error
        internal static void ThrowInvalidArgument(string argName)
        {
            throw new ArgumentException(SR.Format(SR.GenericInvalidArgument, argName));
        }

        // Check that specified condition is true; if not, throw exception
        internal static void ValidateArgument(bool cond, string reason)
        {
            if (!cond)
            {
                throw new ArgumentException(SR.GetResourceString(reason, null));
            }
        }

        // Called by the patterns before accessing .Cache
        internal static void ValidateCached(bool cached)
        {
            if (!cached)
            {
                throw new InvalidOperationException(SR.CacheRequestNeedCache);
            }
        }

        // Called by the patterns before accessing .Current
        internal static void ValidateCurrent(SafePatternHandle hPattern)
        {
            if (hPattern.IsInvalid)
            {
                throw new InvalidOperationException(SR.CacheRequestNeedLiveForProperties);

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