Debugger Windows

The IDE contains a set of debugger windows that give you information about what is going on inside your program. The IDE opens the debugger windows you specify every time you start a debugging session.

The Local Variables, Watches, and Call Stack windows open by default with every debugging session. You can open any other debugger window by choosing the window from the Window submenu Debugging menu. If you open a debugger window when a debugging session is running, it closes automatically when you end the debugging session. If you open the window when no debugging session is running, it stays open until you close it.

In the debugger windows, information is organized into lists. Each list item represents a single object. Each column represents a property of the object. Data displayed in blue underlined text is linked to the source code.

Each debugger window displays a variety of icons to relay information about the object. For example, the Breakpoint window uses a small red square to indicate a breakpoint set on a line. Some windows also include a turner control in the left column. Clicking this control expands and collapses the object.

Some properties in the list are editable, such as the value of a variable. If you select a property and the property has a white background, then you can edit the property. A selected property with a gray background cannot be edited.

You can size a column to fit its contents by dragging the column border. You can move a column by dragging the column header. Clicking Change Visible Column icon opens a dialog box that provides a list of all possible columns that may be shown. Using this dialog box, you may choose to show or hide a column of information.

Each window also includes a contextual menu. Most items in this menu apply to the selected object. One item, List Options, opens a submenu with commands for operating on the list, including which column the list is sorted on and whether the objects in the list are sorted in ascending or descending order. Clicking the column header is another way to switch the sort order between ascending and descending order.


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