Debug Information Viewing

Article
06/30/2006

The debugger user interface uses spreadsheet fields, which have an interface that is similar to Microsoft® Excel. These spreadsheet fields appear in the Watch window, the Variables window, and the QuickWatch dialog box.

The window where the spreadsheet field is located determines which cells are editable. In the Variables window, you can edit the cells in the Value column. In the Watch window, you can edit the cells in the Name and Value columns.

Spreadsheet fields contain controls for viewing of array, object, structure, and pointer variables. If the variable is a pointer, the branch immediately below the pointer contains the value that is pointed to. If the variable is an array, an object, or a structure, the branch below the variable contains the component elements or members.

The variables are marked with a box containing a plus (+) in the Name column. You can expand the variable by clicking the + box, which opens into a tree that may contain additional boxes. When a variable is expanded, the box in the Name column contains a minus (–). You can collapse an expanded variable by clicking the – box. As an alternative, you can expand a variable by selecting it, and then pressing the PLUS SIGN or RIGHT ARROW key. You can collapse a variable by selecting it, and then pressing the MINUS SIGN or LEFT ARROW key.

Scalar variables, which have no components to expand, do not have boxes in the Name column.

When working with these fields, you can automatically size a column to fit its contents by double-clicking the divider. You can size a column manually by dragging the rightmost divider of the column.

Rows fit the current font and cannot be resized. To change the font size, use the Format tab in the Options dialog box, from the Tools menu.

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Debug Information Viewing

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