unable to get correct status code in AJAX Error handler - asp.net

Question

I am not able to get correct error code in the error handler of AJAX request. Everytime the error occurs, it returns me statusCode = 500. I tried to set it explicitly in my service as HttpContext.Current.Response.StatusCode = 403;, but still it gives me status = 500.
This is how my AJAX request looks like:
$.ajax({
type: "POST",
url: "Services/someSvc.asmx/SomeMethod",
cache: true,
contentType: "application/json; charset=utf-8",
data:"{}",
dataType: "json"
error: ajaxFailed
});
function ajaxFailed(xmlRequest) {
alert(xmlRequest.status + ' \n\r ' + //This is always 500.
xmlRequest.statusText + '\n\r' +
xmlRequest.responseText);
}
What am i missing here?

Answer 1

Looks like you were almost there, here is an example [WebMethod] that would throw a StatusCode 403.
[WebMethod]
public static string HelloWorld(string name)
{
HttpContext.Current.Response.Clear();
HttpContext.Current.Response.StatusCode = 403;
return null;
}
Here is the calling jQuery Code.
$(document).ready(function ()
{
var jsonRequest = { name: "Zach Hunter" };
$.ajax({
type: 'POST',
url: 'Demo.aspx/HelloWorld',
data: JSON.stringify(jsonRequest),
contentType: 'application/json; charset=utf-8',
dataType: 'json',
success: function (data, text)
{
$('#results').html(data.d);
},
error: function (request, status, error)
{
$('#results').html('Status Code: ' + request.status);
}
});
});
If you don't return a value as specified in your method signature you'll get a status code 500 returned.

Answer 2

According to the documentation:
error(jqXHR, textStatus, errorThrown)
A function to be called if the request fails. The function receives
three arguments: The jqXHR (in jQuery 1.4.x, XMLHttpRequest) object, a
string describing the type of error that occurred and an optional
exception object, if one occurred. Possible values for the second
argument (besides null) are "timeout", "error", "abort", and
"parsererror". When an HTTP error occurs, errorThrown receives the
textual portion of the HTTP status, such as "Not Found" or "Internal
Server Error." As of jQuery 1.5, the error setting can accept an array
of functions. Each function will be called in turn. Note: This handler
is not called for cross-domain script and JSONP requests. This is an
Ajax Event.
So change your code to something more like this:
$.ajax({
type: "POST",
url: "Services/someSvc.asmx/SomeMethod",
cache: true,
contentType: "application/json; charset=utf-8",
data:"{}",
dataType: "json",
error: ajaxFailed (jqXHR, textStatus, errorThrown)
});
function ajaxFailed(jqXHR, textStatus, errorThrown) {
alert(errorThrown + ' \n\r ' + textStatusText);
}
You might also find this answer provides some additional info.