Conditional Debug on Visual C++ 2008 Express

Question

Is there a way to debug code on Visual C++ 2008 Express, such as I can watch a variable for certain value(s) and, when it assumes this value, to break?

For instance, I want to break when xbecomes 5. In gdb I would set a breakpoint then a condition that x == 5. How can I do it (if possible) on Visual C++ 2008 Express?

Tetreault

Answer 1

Although built in support for it is missing in the express editions, there is another way around it.

I found this on another answer for a similar question.

#if DEBUG
if( node.Name == "Book" )
    System.Diagnostics.Debugger.Break();
#endif

The example shows that if the Name property matches "Book", a breakpoint occurs.

Here is the original question:

How Do I: Create a Breakpoint Using Conditions? [C# Express]

Samalla

What an awful workaround. But nice answer, thanks, But ok, I haven't got the proper tool, I'll use what I've got. – Disastrous

Thinking again, it's not that awful, I can find evil ways of using this =) – Disastrous

Yeah it's a bit underhanded but reading the original answer he does mention that it takes less resources to do than the actual conditional breakpoint in non express editions, it's a shame they didn't include it anyway really. – Samalla

-1: the feature is either missing nor the macro is DEBUG but _DEBUG. Right Click on the break point opens context menu, where you may set conditions. – Ocular

@ValentinHeinitz Can you clarify your comment and the reason for -1? Clearly it exists because its been an accepted answer, is documented as existing and has been the solution for another question. – Samalla

Answer 2

This is not possible in the Express versions of Visual Studio. But it is possible in the full versions.

Idleman

Answer 3

It seems it's possible to do this even in express, at least here it worked. After marking the breakpoint, I right-clicked on its mark, and set a "Condition" (it couldn't be easier than that)

!Setting a condition

Then you can write an expression which evaluates to true. My colleague who has just showed this to me said they have some issues using this for comparing strings, but it's pretty neat for simple comparisons using ints.

!Condition window

However, as said in the other answer, this is not so fast as typing the break code directly.

Tetreault

Answer 4

Lucky! Visual Studio 2010 Express of C/C++ does support it. See How to: Specify a Breakpoint Condition.

I've tried it.

Plastered