The DEBUG Menu

The Debug Menu provides the essential tools for debugging a PowerBASIC program.  We will run through these in their order of appearance:

Run

Begin running the program.  It will continue to run until the debugger either encounters a breakpoint, or runs out of code to execute.  F5 is the hot-key for the Run option.

Run to Caret

Begin running the program.  It continues to run until the debugger either reaches the current line, or encounters a breakpoint, etc.  CTRL+F8 is the hot-key for the Run to Caret option.

Animate

The debugger runs the program using an automated Step-Into technique.  Execution continues until a breakpoint is reached, the Stop button is pressed, or the program completes.  The Animate delay can be set through the IDE's Options Dialog.

Stop

Halt the debugger.  If the debugger is already halted, this has no effect.

Step Into

If the current line contains a call to a Sub or Function, the debugger traces execution into that Sub or Function.  You cannot step into an API call, or into an external module.  F8 is the Step Into hot-key.

Step Over

The debugger executes the current line of code.  If the line contains a reference to a Sub or a Function, the debugger executes that code without tracing into the Sub or Function.  SHIFT+F8 is the Step Over hot-key.

Step Out

The debugger runs the code until the current Sub or Function exits.  If the current function is PBMAIN or WINMAIN, the code is executed until the program is finished or another breakpoint is encountered.  CTRL+SHIFT+F8 is the Step Out hot-key.

Evaluate Variable

Evaluate or modify a variable, or add/remove a variable in the Watch window.  It is not possible to use this to change the length of a string.  Also see Watch CPU Registers.

Clear all Watches

Remove all variables from the Watch window.

Toggle Breakpoint

Set or release a breakpoint on the current line.  F9 is the Toggle Breakpoint hot-key.

Clear all Breakpoints

Release all breakpoints in the program.

Console on Top

Set or release the permanent "Always on Top" or "topmost" property of the console window created by the debugger.  When the console is not permanently topmost, it can be temporarily brought into the foreground (above the debuggers windows) by the Console button on the toolbar.

Watch CPU registers

Show or hide the Register Watcher window, which lets you see the state of the CPU registers and flags when debugging.

Variable watch window

Show or hide the Variable Watcher window, which lets you see the state of the ERR function and any variables you choose to watch when debugging.

Program Reset

If the current program is halted/stopped, the program will be reset, ready for debugging to commence again.  SHIFT+F5 is the Reset hot-key.

Exit Debugger

Halts the current program and terminates the debugger.  The variable list in the Watch window is retained between debugging sessions, until the IDE is closed.

 

See Also

How the integrated debugger works

Debugger Toolbar Buttons

Debugger Settings