Hibernate version:2.1.6

example:
if hiberate can't delete a row it throws the following exception:
net.sf.hibernate.HibernateException: SQL insert, update or delete failed (row not found)

is there a possiblity to identify such a exception without parsing the exception message?

//peter

If you are intrested in the 'row not found' event (causing the exception), then you could refresh()/get()/load()/lock() the object before executing your delete query.

Note that such error isn't likely to happen if you have proper version control (optimistic locking) in place. Read the related chapter in the doc - you may find some hints.