The answer to this has got to be simple, but I sure don't see it.
I'm working on an MVC2 project under VS2010, with Unit tests written in NUnit.
I debug the tests (and code) by starting the NUnit GUI, then clicking Debug -> Attach To Process in VS, and attaching to nunit-agent.
This has all worked fine for some time.
I added one additional test for a bug that I discovered this morning, and suddenly, my breakpoints are not being hit. NUnit just runs merrily along and says the test passes (which it shouldn't, since I haven't fixed the bug yet), without ever stopping at the breakpoint I have set on the very first executable line in the test method.
I've looked at everything I can think of, including rebooting the machine, and I can't figure out what has changed. (FWIW, the test project is configured to run under .NET 3.5, and I'm running NUnit 2.5.4. I have added the 4.0 "supportedRuntime" flag and "loadFromRemoteResources" flag to the section of nunit.exe.config, and I have also tried attaching to nunit.exe instead of nunit-agent.exe. Note that I am NOT getting the disabled breakpoint buttons with the "source code cannot be loaded" messages. The breakpoints are the standard red ball, they just never get hit.)
The answer was indeed simple.
Somewhere along the line, I had been using VS2010 to debug Script code by attaching to the browser. When you attach to a process in the debugger, you have to tell it what kind of code you are debugging, and debugging script code is incompatible with debugging managed code, so it turns off Managed code. Apparently VS remembers your last selection.
So when I attempted to attach to N-Unit, it was selecting Script as the type of code that I wanted to debug, and I didn't notice. All I had to do was select the drop down box in the "Attach to process" dialog box, and check managed code.
Thanks to Paul Laudeman in his CodeBetter Blog
Try attaching to the nunit-agent.exe process. That worked for me.
Related
Recently I noticed some strange behavior when debugging ASP.NET application. When I press F10, sometimes it doesn't go to the next code line, but just stays on the same until you press it 2-3 times. And sometimes it goes to the previous line. It happens only in one library, used for this application, all other code I can debug as usual. Is it some kind of bug? Can it be fixed?
This is not a bug in Visual Studio Debugger but probably a standard behavior that is resulting from calling a multithreaded code.
I have a nasty issue with an object being destroyed in a big project of which I cannot find the place where this happens. In Visual Studio 2008 I would have set a data breakpoint but when trying to do this in 2010 the option New Data Breakpoint is disabled. The project is running and a non data breakpoint is hit. What is going on here? I read about Managed Code. How can I find out if my project uses managed code and if yes, how can I avoid this?
When you attach to the process (or in your settings) disable Mixed Mode Debugging. In other words, make sure you have "Native code" be the only debugging option that's checked.
Just to gather the comment made by Eric H into a more complete answer:
Make sure the debugger is started in "Native code" mode.
Data breakpoints may not be set while the application is running. This means the application should be paused at another (function) breakpoint.
I am working on a C#.NET class library project in VS2010. In my project settings -> debug settings, I have the project set to start an external program (C:\Windows\SysWOW64\wscript.exe) which runs a very simple jscript file (test.js). The script simply creates an instance of the class and calls one of it's methods.
The problem is when I start debugging, VS2010 does not stop at any of my breakpoints. If I open up the exact same project in VS2008 it does stop at the break points. Is there a new setting somewhere that is preventing the breakpoints from being hit? Has anyone else ran into this issue?
My first check would be to disable "Just My Code"
Tools -> Options
Debugger
Uncheck "Enable Just My Code"
Try the scenario again.
To solved this problem by creating a config file for the application which is using the component to debug with the following data:
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<configuration>
<startup>
<supportedRuntime version="v2.0.50727"/>
</startup>
</configuration>
With this file you tell the debugger to use the right runtime version for debugging (it seems the debugger uses version 4.0 by default).
I have a tried a whole day to find out why I couldn't debug my visual studio 2012 console application, and the answer was embarrassing.
I was running it in "RELEASE" mode.
Sometimes the obvious is the hard to find.
Close the Visual Studio IDE and Open it. Now it will work. For me it also face the same issue. I used this way to overcome
I had a "Rebuilt" VS2013 project that I couldn't debug (no symbols). Finally, I saw Optimization was checked (Project->Properties->Build). I unchecked it and Rebuilt. Symbols loaded finally. My two cents, only use (compile) Optimization when absolutely necessary.
While I can't answer why it happens, I can provide you with workaround.
Include
using System.Diagnostics;
At the very beginning of your code (Class constructor for instance) place the following lines:
#if (DEBUG)
while(!Debugger.IsAttached);
Debugger.Break();
#endif
Start debugging.
Menu Tools→Attach to Process
Attach to your process.
breakpoint should trigger in your code.
Other breakpoints should trigger as well.
Could be a number of reasons. Usually it's because you're trying to debug against the wrong version.
These actions work about 80% of the time.
Get the latest code
Clean
Rebuild
Restart IIS
Try again
If no good, go to Debug > Windows > Modules and if the relevant dll is there, right click it and load symbols.
If it's not in the list, try running the code anyway. Sometimes even though it says the breakpoint will not be hit, it's only because the dll is not loaded until you enter a scenario that needs it. Try the scenario that depends on the dll, and it may just hit the breakpoint anyway.
Oh one more idea, restart your browser. You might have something cached from an older dll.
If the reason is wrong .NET runtime version (which was my problem), instead of creating configuration file you can simply choose the right version in the Attach to process dialog.
In the dialog, next to Attach to click on Select and switch from Automatically... to Debug these code types where you should check the right version.
If this was your problem also, then you probably had "Symbols not loaded" message on your breakpoints. Immediately after selecting the right version you should see that this error is no longer reported.
For me it was fixed by:
Open the project properties is VS2010
Goto Compile -> Advanced Compile Options
Change 'Generate debug Info' from 'None' to 'Full'
The problem could be your browser is using a cached version of the page, you are working with.
Try to add som nonsense extra querystring in your adress line of the browser f.x. add ?NONSENSE=1234
This forces the browser to use a new version of the web page since it does not know if the page should look different with this Query in the end. Next time use ?NONSENS=1235.
I had a problem with misplaced breakpoints in my native c++ code.
The reason was I had been editing the code so some line ends in the code was not \r\n. It was not possible to see in the code unless you searched for \r\n.
After inserting the proper line ends \r\n the debugger worked.
I encountered the similar issue but its in a CLR project. I had some old c++ syntax in the CLR project. For me after I enabled 'Use managed compatibility mode' in Tools>options>Debugging>General it started to hit the break points.
Sometimes I get the message that the breakpoint will not be hit, and no symbols will be loaded.
The red icon in vs.net changes color, and the debug mode just doesn't work.
what is the reason for this?
You may be running your project in Release mode. If so, then switch to Debug mode
From Visual studio debugging issue with files of the same name by Philip Carney
Do each bullet in the link below ONE AT A TIME, but repeat my steps below with each one you try.
Stop debugging (press red square icon) in Visual Studio
Clean Solution
Build Solution
Tools > Attach to Process (or start with debugging)
Start the program that you're attaching to, and run it such that your code will get hit
If attaching to nunit.exe, then open NUnit and run a test so your breakpoint will be hit
If attaching to w3wp.exe (IIS site), then open your site in the browser and go to the page that will hit your breakpoint
for manage code only - theres a good answer for this problem on the following site:
http://geekswithblogs.net/dbutscher/archive/2007/06/26/113472.aspx
for native + managed code - in the startup solution properties-> Debug tab
make sure that "enable unmanaged code debugging" check box is checked
After trying several suggested fixes for this I did the following to get it working.
Right Clicked my Project in the Solution Explorer and selected "Properties".
Went to the "Web" section and made sure "Start Action" was set to "Current Page".
Spent 3 1/2 hours on that... I'm going to go get a drink now.
I resolved this problem by selecting Automatic:Native Code for the "Attach to" field in "Attach To Process" form
Next to the "Debug/Release" dropdown list, there is another one with "Any CPU/Configuration Manager...". Click "Configuration Manager...", and you will see some of your projects might be in Release mode. Change all of them to Debug.
This can happen if the symbol fiels are different from the assembly (remote debugging), or when there is no "direct path", so the assembly hasent been load, but might be loaded using reflection and loading of the required assembly at run time.
This can also happen if the debugger is not attached to the process for whatever reason. If it's the case, you can always go to Debug - Attach to Process... and choose the right process. Your breakpoints should return to normal once VS determines it can hit them.
What does it say when you hover the mouse over the disabled breakpoint? It will usually tell you the problem. My favorite is the old 'source code is out of date', especially when I'm debugging a DLL. Another favorite is when the file you're looking at isn't the one you're debugging (a copy in another folder?). If it's a case where you can breakpoint a caller routine, but not the callee, stepping into the callee will force VS to open the 'proper' source file and you'll be able to set breakpoints. Confusing, I usually swear at VS at this point, it seems to help.
I had the same problem. Which I know is normally if the build versions are different, and something isn't matching up. I cleaned my project, rebuilt it, and then deployed and that got everything back in-sync.
I do not like to play with knives but the only thing that worked for me involved editing the .csproj file itself. So, unload the project file, edit it by cutting and pasting the three asp.net files so that they are together in the ItemGroup. However, sometimes it is necessary to go further as explained here: http://carnotaurus.tumblr.com/post/4130422114/visual-studio-debugging-issue-with-files-of-the-same - Also, I give a list of other proposed solutions that did not work for me. I hope it helps.
I have tested with both deployed application and service, what I have found out that If the deployed code is different than a code in visual studio then breakpoint will not hit. Even small changes will affect and the breakpoint will not hit. So, It is better to debug the same version which is there on vs code and also in deploy application or service.
To fix this I had to re-create the virtual directory. I'm using Asp.Net 4.7 Framework and IIS Express. Went to Web project > property page > Web tab > clicked the "Create Virtual Directory" button next to Project Url textbox.
I forgot I had clicked this button in my "Main" branch, but then had switched to my "Sprint" branch. It kept running the "Main" code until I clicked "Create Virtual Directory" on my "Sprint" branch.
For me it was giving this because I haven't started the relevant project at start of application , it worked after I added project run on start
Is there a good way to debug errors in the Visual Studio Designer?
In our project we have tons of UserControls and many complex forms. For the complex ones, the Designer often throws various exceptions which doesn't help much, and I was wondering if there's some nice way to figure out what has gone wrong.
The language is C#, and we're using Visual Studio 2005.
I've been able to debug some control designer issues by running a second instance of VS, then from your first VS instance do a "Debug -> Attach to Process" and pick "devenv".
The first VS instance is where you'll set your breakpoints. Use the second instance to load up the designer to cause the "designer" code to run.
See Debugging Design-Time Controls (MSDN).
It has been a pain in 2005 and still is in 2015. Breakpoints will often not hit, probably because of the assemblies being shadow copied or something by the designer(?). The best you can do is to break manually by introducing a call to Debugger.Break(). You may wrap it into a compiler conditional as so:
#if DEBUG
System.Diagnostics.Debugger.Break();
#endif
int line_to = break; // <- if a simple breakpoint here does not suffice
I have had this happen many times and it is a real pain.
Firstly I'd suggest attempting to follow the stack trace provided by the designer, though I found that often simply lists a bunch of internals stuff that isn't much use.
If that doesn't work then try compiling and determining the exception from there. You really are flying blind which is the problem. You could then try simply running the code and seeing what exception is raised when you run it, that should give you some more information.
A last-gasp approach could be to remove all the non-generated code from the form and gradually re-introduce it to determine the error.
If you're using custom controls you could manually remove the generated code related to the custom controls as well if the previous method still results in an error. You could then re-introduce this step-by-step in the same way to determine which custom control is causing the problem, then go and debug that separately.
Basically as far as I can tell there's no real way around the problem other than to slog it out a bit!
I discovered why sometimes breakpoints are not hit. In the Attach to Process dialog, "Attach to:" type has to be "Select..."'d.
Once I changed to "Managed 4.0, 4.5", breakpoints for a WinRT application were hit. Source: Designer Debugging in WinRT.
Each one is different and they can sometimes be obscure. As a first step, I would do the following:
Use source control and save often. When a designer error occurs, get a list of all changes to the affected controls that have occurred recently and test each one until you find the culprit
Be sure to check out the initialization routines of the controls involved. Very often these errors will occur because of some error or bad dependency that is called through the default constructor for a control (an error that may only manifest itself in VS)
You can run a second instance of VS and attach it to the first instance of VS (Ctrl+Alt+P). In the first instance set the breakpoints, in the second instance run the designer, and the breakpoint will fire. You can step through the code, but Edit-and-Continue will not work.
For Edit-and-Continue to work, set you control library's debug options to run a VS with the command line argument being the solution filename. Then you can simply set the breakpoints and hit F5. It will debug just like user code! As a side note, you can do this will VS and Office add-ins also.
This worked for me for Visual Studio 2022:
I opened a second Visual Studio instance
In the second instance I clicked Debug -> Attach to Process...
I selected DesignToolsServer from the process list
More details: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/dotnet/desktop/winforms/controls/walkthrough-debugging-custom-windows-forms-controls-at-design-time?view=netframeworkdesktop-4.8