Why cannot see COM object properties in debugger?

Question

Why cannot see COM object properties in debugger?

Heiko 1,291

I have a WPF project (with .NETFramework). On Windows 8.1 with VS Community 2013, it is the only project in the Solution. On Windows 10 (with VS Community 2017) and on Windows 11 (with VS Community 2022) the project is part of a WPF Desktop Bridge Solution.

In VS 2013, I can see all the properties of a COM object in the debugger. In VS 2017 and VS 2022 these properties are not shown to me. Is there a setting where I can make these properties visible in the debugger? Or is this not supported by VS 2017 and VS 2022? Or is it a bug in VS 2017 and VS 2022 ?

COM-Obj_VS2013

COM-Obj_VS2022

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Answer 1

Anna Xiu-MSFT 31,056 Microsoft External Staff

Hi @Heiko,

Welcome to Microsoft Q&A!

If you create a new WPF project in VS2022, does it persist?

Please check if the “Enable native code debugging” option is checked. You can find it through right-click project > Properties > Debug.

Sincerely,

Anna

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Heiko 1,291 Reputation points

2023-01-18T14:14:23.51+00:00
Hi Anna,

I created a new WPF (.NETFramework) project and placed the follwing code into the MainWindow ctor and enabled native code debugging in project settings. But it didn't help. I only get 'Native View', 'Non-Public members' and 'Dynamic View', but not the properties I want.

In VS 2013 'Enable native code debugging' is not activated and I still get the desired properties.

Maybe I have to install any component with the VS Installer?

Shell32.Shell shell = new Shell32.Shell(); Shell32.Folder folder = shell.NameSpace(@"C:\Users\Egon\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Recent"); if (folder != null) foreach (Shell32.FolderItem item in folder.Items()) { if (item.IsLink) try { Shell32.ShellLinkObject lnk = item.GetLink; } catch {} }
Anna Xiu-MSFT 31,056 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff

2023-01-20T09:35:20.11+00:00

What .NET framework are you using?

Please try to change Search Depth dropdown at the top of the Watch window.
Heiko 1,291 Reputation points

2023-01-20T12:04:30.56+00:00

I'm using .NETFramework 4.8. I set the search depth from 3 to 10, but it didn't change something.

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Why cannot see COM object properties in debugger?

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