although i started zope with the -D option there is no traceback in the error message in case of an error. Of course i can expand the standard error message with an "<dtml-var error_tb>" but is that the right way, i guess not ?!

The tracebacks now live in the closest error_log, probably in the site root. If you want them in your page (and this is sometimes handy) then you need to do exactly as you say above. --jcc -- "Code generators follow the 80/20 rule. They solve most of the problems, but not all of the problems. There are always features and edge cases that will need hand-coding. Even if code generation could build 100 percent of the application, there will still be an endless supply of boring meetings about feature design." (http://www.devx.com/java/editorial/15511)