Question

How do I set IncludeExceptionDetailInFaults in code without using App.Config?

Answer 1

Yes, sure – on the server side, before you open the service host. This would however require that you self-host the WCF service – won’t work in IIS hosting scenarios:

ServiceHost host = new ServiceHost(typeof(MyWCFService));

ServiceDebugBehavior debug = host.Description.Behaviors.Find<ServiceDebugBehavior>();

// if not found - add behavior with setting turned on 
if (debug == null)
{
    host.Description.Behaviors.Add(
         new ServiceDebugBehavior() { IncludeExceptionDetailInFaults = true });
}
else
{  
    // make sure setting is turned ON
    if (!debug.IncludeExceptionDetailInFaults)
    {
        debug.IncludeExceptionDetailInFaults = true;
    }
}

host.Open();

If you need to do the same thing in IIS hosting, you’ll have to create your own custom MyServiceHost descendant and a suitable MyServiceHostFactory that would instantiate such a custom service host, and reference this custom service host factory in your *.svc file.