Inspecting Values in the Debugger

To inspect the value of an item

  1. Specify the selected item, by performing one of the following actions.

    • Click on the Inspect toolbar button.

    • Press Ctrl+I.

    The dialog shown in the following diagram is then displayed, to enable you to specify the name of the entity you want to inspect (that is, the expression or watch name).

    This dialog is displayed when the caret in the editor pane is not positioned on a variable; for example, it is positioned on an empty line. If the caret is positioned on a local variable or parameter, the value of the selected variable is displayed directly; that is, the Inspect dialog is not displayed.

    The dialog accepts either the name of a local variable or parameter or an expression that is compiled and executed. There are no restrictions other than the expression is able to be compiled and returns a value. It is your responsibility for the effects that the expression may have on the database and execution of the method logic.

  2. In the Expression text box, specify the item to be inspected.

  3. Click the OK button.

You can also display the bubble help containing the current value of a local variable in a line of code in the Method Source window, by positioning the cursor over the local variable whose value you want displayed.

For details about the circumstances under which bubble help is displayed by default, see "Displaying Code in the Method Source Window", earlier in this chapter.

If the item being inspected contains a primitive type, an invalid object reference, or a null object reference, the Variable Inspector dialog, shown in the following image, is displayed.

If the item contains an object reference, an Inspector form is opened for the object when you click the OK button in the Inspect Variable dialog.

For details about: