Spring exception translation isn't working with JPA

My dao class com.myapp.dao.hibernate.XyzDaoImpl is annotated with @Repository

@Repository
public class UserDaoImpl extends GenericDaoJpa implements UserDao {

...
    @Override
    public void saveUser(User user) throws Exception{
        entityManager.persist(user);
    }
...
}

My app-data.xml is as follow:

<bean id="dataSource" class="org.apache.commons.dbcp.BasicDataSource">
       <property name="driverClassName" value="${db.driver}" />
        <property name="url" value="${db.url}" />
       <property name="username" value="${db.username}" />
     <property name="password" value="${db.password}" />
     <property name="initialSize" value="5" />
        <property name="maxActive" value="0" />
  </bean>


    <!-- JPA Entity Manager Factory -->
    <bean id="entityManagerFactory"  class="org.springframework.orm.jpa.LocalContainerEntityManagerFactoryBean" 
          p:dataSource-ref="dataSource" p:jpaDialect-ref="jpaDialect"
        p:jpaVendorAdapter-ref="jpaVendorAdapter"
    />

    <bean name="jpaDialect" class="org.springframework.orm.jpa.vendor.HibernateJpaDialect">
    </bean>

    <bean name="jpaVendorAdapter" class="org.springframework.orm.jpa.vendor.HibernateJpaVendorAdapter">
        <property name="databasePlatform" value="org.hibernate.dialect.MySQL5InnoDBDialect"></property>
    </bean>

    <!-- detect les @persistentContext in dao -->
    <bean class="org.springframework.orm.jpa.support.PersistenceAnnotationBeanPostProcessor" />


     <!-- This will ensure that hibernate or jpa exceptions are automatically translated into
         Spring's generic DataAccessException hierarchy -->
    <bean class="org.springframework.dao.annotation.PersistenceExceptionTranslationPostProcessor"/>


 <bean id="defaultLobHandler" class="org.springframework.jdbc.support.lob.DefaultLobHandler" />

    <!-- Transaction Config -->
    <bean id="txManager" class="org.springframework.orm.jpa.JpaTransactionManager"
          p:entityManagerFactory-ref="entityManagerFactory"/>

   <context:component-scan base-package="com.myapp.dao.hibernate" />

 <tx:annotation-driven transaction-manager="txManager" />

Now, in my jUnit test method, I deliberately insert a duplicate object and I got javax.persistence.PersistenceException instead of a spring exception.

@Test public void testSaveUser() {
        String login = "duplicateLogin";

        User user = new User();
        user.setLogin(login);
        user.setPasswd("pass");
        InformationBean rep = ms.saveUser(user);
        assertEquals(Constants.REPLY_403, rep);
        System.out.println("user was not saved "+user);     
}


@Service
public class MessagingService{
...

@Transactional(propagation=Propagation.REQUIRED)
public InformationBean saveUser(User user) {
    InformationBean info ;
    try {
        userDao.saveUser(user);
        info = Constants.REPLY_200;
    }catch(DataIntegrityViolationException ex) {
        logger.warn("login already used.");
        info = Constants.REPLY_403;
    }catch(ConstraintViolationException cve) {
        logger.warn("login already used.");
        info = Constants.REPLY_403;
    }
    catch(Exception e) {
        logger.error("Oups error",e);       
        info = Constants.REPLY_500;
    }

    return info;
}
...
}

Here is the complete stack trace

DEBUG - Creating new transaction with name [com.myapp.service.MessagingService.saveUser]: PROPAGATION_REQUIRED,ISOLATION_DEFAULT; ''
DEBUG - Opened new EntityManager [org.hibernate.ejb.EntityManagerImpl@f6852d] for JPA transaction
DEBUG - Exposing JPA transaction as JDBC transaction [org.springframework.orm.jpa.vendor.HibernateJpaDialect$HibernateConnectionHandle@79df82]
Hibernate: insert into User (email, login, passwd) values (?, ?, ?)
8928 [main] WARN org.hibernate.util.JDBCExceptionReporter - SQL Error: 1062, SQLState: 23000
8929 [main] ERROR org.hibernate.util.JDBCExceptionReporter - Duplicate entry 'u123456789012' for key 2
ERROR - Oups error
javax.persistence.PersistenceException: org.hibernate.exception.ConstraintViolationException: could not insert: [com.myapp.model.User]
    at org.hibernate.ejb.AbstractEntityManagerImpl.convert(AbstractEntityManagerImpl.java:1235)
    at org.hibernate.ejb.AbstractEntityManagerImpl.convert(AbstractEntityManagerImpl.java:1168)
    at org.hibernate.ejb.AbstractEntityManagerImpl.convert(AbstractEntityManagerImpl.java:1174)
    at org.hibernate.ejb.AbstractEntityManagerImpl.persist(AbstractEntityManagerImpl.java:674)
    at sun.reflect.NativeMethodAccessorImpl.invoke0(Native Method)
    at sun.reflect.NativeMethodAccessorImpl.invoke(NativeMethodAccessorImpl.java:39)
    at sun.reflect.DelegatingMethodAccessorImpl.invoke(DelegatingMethodAccessorImpl.java:25)
    at java.lang.reflect.Method.invoke(Method.java:597)
    at org.springframework.orm.jpa.SharedEntityManagerCreator$SharedEntityManagerInvocationHandler.invoke(SharedEntityManagerCreator.java:240)
    at $Proxy32.persist(Unknown Source)
    at com.myapp.dao.hibernate.UserDaoImpl.saveUser(UserDaoImpl.java:60)
    at sun.reflect.NativeMethodAccessorImpl.invoke0(Native Method)
    at sun.reflect.NativeMethodAccessorImpl.invoke(NativeMethodAccessorImpl.java:39)
    at sun.reflect.DelegatingMethodAccessorImpl.invoke(DelegatingMethodAccessorImpl.java:25)
    at java.lang.reflect.Method.invoke(Method.java:597)
    at org.springframework.aop.support.AopUtils.invokeJoinpointUsingReflection(AopUtils.java:309)
    at org.springframework.aop.framework.ReflectiveMethodInvocation.invokeJoinpoint(ReflectiveMethodInvocation.java:183)
    at org.springframework.aop.framework.ReflectiveMethodInvocation.proceed(ReflectiveMethodInvocation.java:150)
    at org.springframework.dao.support.PersistenceExceptionTranslationInterceptor.invoke(PersistenceExceptionTranslationInterceptor.java:155)
    at org.springframework.aop.framework.ReflectiveMethodInvocation.proceed(ReflectiveMethodInvocation.java:172)
    at org.springframework.aop.framework.JdkDynamicAopProxy.invoke(JdkDynamicAopProxy.java:202)
    at $Proxy34.saveUser(Unknown Source)
    at com.myapp.service.MessagingService.saveUser(MessagingService.java:237)
    at com.myapp.service.MessagingService$$FastClassByCGLIB$$48584635.invoke(<generated>)
    at net.sf.cglib.proxy.MethodProxy.invoke(MethodProxy.java:191)
    at org.springframework.aop.framework.Cglib2AopProxy$CglibMethodInvocation.invokeJoinpoint(Cglib2AopProxy.java:688)
    at org.springframework.aop.framework.ReflectiveMethodInvocation.proceed(ReflectiveMethodInvocation.java:150)
    at org.springframework.transaction.interceptor.TransactionInterceptor.invoke(TransactionInterceptor.java:110)
    at org.springframework.aop.framework.ReflectiveMethodInvocation.proceed(ReflectiveMethodInvocation.java:172)
    at org.springframework.aop.framework.Cglib2AopProxy$DynamicAdvisedInterceptor.intercept(Cglib2AopProxy.java:621)
    at com.myapp.service.MessagingService$$EnhancerByCGLIB$$4c0c06a9.saveUser(<generated>)
    at com.myapp.service.MessagingServiceTest.testSaveUser(MessagingServiceTest.java:112)
    at sun.reflect.NativeMethodAccessorImpl.invoke0(Native Method)
    at sun.reflect.NativeMethodAccessorImpl.invoke(NativeMethodAccessorImpl.java:39)
    at sun.reflect.DelegatingMethodAccessorImpl.invoke(DelegatingMethodAccessorImpl.java:25)
    at java.lang.reflect.Method.invoke(Method.java:597)
    at org.junit.runners.model.FrameworkMethod$1.runReflectiveCall(FrameworkMethod.java:44)
    at org.junit.internal.runners.model.ReflectiveCallable.run(ReflectiveCallable.java:15)
    at org.junit.runners.model.FrameworkMethod.invokeExplosively(FrameworkMethod.java:41)
    at org.junit.internal.runners.statements.InvokeMethod.evaluate(InvokeMethod.java:20)
    at org.springframework.test.context.junit4.statements.RunBeforeTestMethodCallbacks.evaluate(RunBeforeTestMethodCallbacks.java:74)
    at org.springframework.test.context.junit4.statements.RunAfterTestMethodCallbacks.evaluate(RunAfterTestMethodCallbacks.java:82)
    at org.springframework.test.context.junit4.statements.SpringRepeat.evaluate(SpringRepeat.java:72)
    at org.springframework.test.context.junit4.SpringJUnit4ClassRunner.runChild(SpringJUnit4ClassRunner.java:240)
    at org.junit.runners.BlockJUnit4ClassRunner.runChild(BlockJUnit4ClassRunner.java:49)
    at org.junit.runners.ParentRunner$3.run(ParentRunner.java:193)
    at org.junit.runners.ParentRunner$1.schedule(ParentRunner.java:52)
    at org.junit.runners.ParentRunner.runChildren(ParentRunner.java:191)
    at org.junit.runners.ParentRunner.access$000(ParentRunner.java:42)
    at org.junit.runners.ParentRunner$2.evaluate(ParentRunner.java:184)
    at org.springframework.test.context.junit4.statements.RunBeforeTestClassCallbacks.evaluate(RunBeforeTestClassCallbacks.java:61)
    at org.springframework.test.context.junit4.statements.RunAfterTestClassCallbacks.evaluate(RunAfterTestClassCallbacks.java:70)
    at org.junit.runners.ParentRunner.run(ParentRunner.java:236)
    at org.springframework.test.context.junit4.SpringJUnit4ClassRunner.run(SpringJUnit4ClassRunner.java:180)
    at org.eclipse.jdt.internal.junit4.runner.JUnit4TestReference.run(JUnit4TestReference.java:49)
    at org.eclipse.jdt.internal.junit.runner.TestExecution.run(TestExecution.java:38)
    at org.eclipse.jdt.internal.junit.runner.RemoteTestRunner.runTests(RemoteTestRunner.java:467)
    at org.eclipse.jdt.internal.junit.runner.RemoteTestRunner.runTests(RemoteTestRunner.java:683)
    at org.eclipse.jdt.internal.junit.runner.RemoteTestRunner.run(RemoteTestRunner.java:390)
    at org.eclipse.jdt.internal.junit.runner.RemoteTestRunner.main(RemoteTestRunner.java:197)
Caused by: org.hibernate.exception.ConstraintViolationException: could not insert: [com.myapp.model.User]
    at org.hibernate.exception.SQLStateConverter.convert(SQLStateConverter.java:96)
    at org.hibernate.exception.JDBCExceptionHelper.convert(JDBCExceptionHelper.java:66)
    at org.hibernate.id.insert.AbstractReturningDelegate.performInsert(AbstractReturningDelegate.java:64)
    at org.hibernate.persister.entity.AbstractEntityPersister.insert(AbstractEntityPersister.java:2329)
    at org.hibernate.persister.entity.AbstractEntityPersister.insert(AbstractEntityPersister.java:2836)
    at org.hibernate.action.EntityIdentityInsertAction.execute(EntityIdentityInsertAction.java:71)
    at org.hibernate.engine.ActionQueue.execute(ActionQueue.java:268)
    at org.hibernate.event.def.AbstractSaveEventListener.performSaveOrReplicate(AbstractSaveEventListener.java:321)
    at org.hibernate.event.def.AbstractSaveEventListener.performSave(AbstractSaveEventListener.java:204)
    at org.hibernate.event.def.AbstractSaveEventListener.saveWithGeneratedId(AbstractSaveEventListener.java:130)
    at org.hibernate.ejb.event.EJB3PersistEventListener.saveWithGeneratedId(EJB3PersistEventListener.java:69)
    at org.hibernate.event.def.DefaultPersistEventListener.entityIsTransient(DefaultPersistEventListener.java:179)
    at org.hibernate.event.def.DefaultPersistEventListener.onPersist(DefaultPersistEventListener.java:135)
    at org.hibernate.event.def.DefaultPersistEventListener.onPersist(DefaultPersistEventListener.java:61)
    at org.hibernate.impl.SessionImpl.firePersist(SessionImpl.java:800)
    at org.hibernate.impl.SessionImpl.persist(SessionImpl.java:774)
    at org.hibernate.impl.SessionImpl.persist(SessionImpl.java:778)
    at org.hibernate.ejb.AbstractEntityManagerImpl.persist(AbstractEntityManagerImpl.java:668)
    ... 56 more
Caused by: com.mysql.jdbc.exceptions.jdbc4.MySQLIntegrityConstraintViolationException: Duplicate entry 'u123456789012' for key 2
    at sun.reflect.NativeConstructorAccessorImpl.newInstance0(Native Method)
    at sun.reflect.NativeConstructorAccessorImpl.newInstance(NativeConstructorAccessorImpl.java:39)
    at sun.reflect.DelegatingConstructorAccessorImpl.newInstance(DelegatingConstructorAccessorImpl.java:27)
    at java.lang.reflect.Constructor.newInstance(Constructor.java:513)
    at com.mysql.jdbc.Util.handleNewInstance(Util.java:409)
    at com.mysql.jdbc.Util.getInstance(Util.java:384)
    at com.mysql.jdbc.SQLError.createSQLException(SQLError.java:1041)
    at com.mysql.jdbc.MysqlIO.checkErrorPacket(MysqlIO.java:3562)
    at com.mysql.jdbc.MysqlIO.checkErrorPacket(MysqlIO.java:3494)
    at com.mysql.jdbc.MysqlIO.sendCommand(MysqlIO.java:1960)
    at com.mysql.jdbc.MysqlIO.sqlQueryDirect(MysqlIO.java:2114)
    at com.mysql.jdbc.ConnectionImpl.execSQL(ConnectionImpl.java:2696)
    at com.mysql.jdbc.PreparedStatement.executeInternal(PreparedStatement.java:2105)
    at com.mysql.jdbc.Prepar开发者_StackOverflowedStatement.executeUpdate(PreparedStatement.java:2398)
    at com.mysql.jdbc.PreparedStatement.executeUpdate(PreparedStatement.java:2316)
    at com.mysql.jdbc.PreparedStatement.executeUpdate(PreparedStatement.java:2301)
    at org.apache.commons.dbcp.DelegatingPreparedStatement.executeUpdate(DelegatingPreparedStatement.java:101)
    at org.hibernate.id.IdentityGenerator$GetGeneratedKeysDelegate.executeAndExtract(IdentityGenerator.java:94)
    at org.hibernate.id.insert.AbstractReturningDelegate.performInsert(AbstractReturningDelegate.java:57)
    ... 71 more
DEBUG - Initiating transaction commit
DEBUG - Committing JPA transaction on EntityManager [org.hibernate.ejb.EntityManagerImpl@f6852d]
DEBUG - Closing JPA EntityManager [org.hibernate.ejb.EntityManagerImpl@f6852d] after transaction
DEBUG - Closing JPA EntityManager

EDIT1: After removing the throws Exception from the saveUser() DAO method, it seems that Spring exception translation is working. My service method catchs DataIntegrityViolationException and return normally. However, the test method doesn't get the return but instead get an exception: TransactionSystemException. How can I avoid such unwanted exception that breaks everything?

Edit2: Spring exception translation was working fine, the problem comes from JPA/EntityManager. See the complete story and how I managed to solve it: http://tinyurl.com/439dmul

Regarding your latter question about TransactionSystemException: this exception was thrown when exiting @Transactional method in order to indicate that transaction had been rolled back.

If you want to reliably catch constraint violations, you need to do it around transaction, not inside it. For example, by using programmatic transaction demarcation inside saveUser() method instead of @Transactional, or by adding try-catch clause to the top-level method.