title: Compiler warning: null reference exception
body: <p>I have the following code in Visual Studio 2005.</p>
  
  <pre><code>    Dim OutFile As System.IO.StreamWriter
      Try
          OutFile = New System.IO.StreamWriter(Filename)
         // Do stuff with OutFile
      Catch Ex As Exception
         // Handle Exception
      Finally
         If OutFile IsNot Nothing Then OutFile.Close()
      End Try
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>But VS2005 brings up the warning for the line "If OutFile IsNot.." that </p>
  
  <blockquote>
    <p>Variable 'OutFile' is used before it has been assigned a value. A null reference exception could result at runtime.</p>
  </blockquote>
  
  <p>Is there some way of removing this warning by subtly altering the code or is there just a better way of doing what I'm trying to do?</p>
  
  <p>Thanks</p>
  
  <p>Rob</p>