Help with why project pdb will not load

Question

Help with why project pdb will not load

Chris Powell 0

Can you help me figure out why the debugger will not load the pdb file?

It says it cannot find it but I know it is in the same directory. See attached image.

I don't know what I did to the project setting that caused this.

I started over with a new project file and was able to get it to work. But I cannot figure out what my existing project has that causes it to not load. The DLL compiles and works fine it just will not let me debug it.

Thanks,

Chris

RLWA32 49,536 Reputation points

2023-03-21T23:17:02.2366667+00:00

I started over with a new project file and was able to get it to work.

So use the new project file. Compare the old and new project files to find the differences in project property settings. That comparison could identify the cause of the initial problem.
YujianYao-MSFT 4,296 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff

2023-03-22T06:01:50.2633333+00:00

Hi Chris Powell ,

It says it cannot find it but I know it is in the same directory. See attached image.

Since there is no picture, I guess you may not add the path of the lib file, you need to add it here:

We don't need to debug the dll, we just need to make sure that the lib file is generated after the build.

1 answer

Your answer

RLWA32 49,536 Reputation points

2023-03-21T23:17:02.2366667+00:00

I started over with a new project file and was able to get it to work.

So use the new project file. Compare the old and new project files to find the differences in project property settings. That comparison could identify the cause of the initial problem.
YujianYao-MSFT 4,296 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff

2023-03-22T06:01:50.2633333+00:00

Hi Chris Powell ,

It says it cannot find it but I know it is in the same directory. See attached image.

Since there is no picture, I guess you may not add the path of the lib file, you need to add it here:

We don't need to debug the dll, we just need to make sure that the lib file is generated after the build.

Answer 1

Chris Powell 0

I figured this out. For a DLL you must use the same directory for Output Directory and Intermediate directory:

I made these the same and now it is working. (This is from Project Property file.)

  <PropertyGroup>
    <OutDir>$(SolutionDir)Build\$(Configuration)\$(ProjectName)\</OutDir>
    <IntDir>$(SolutionDir)Build\$(Configuration)\$(ProjectName)\</IntDir>
  </PropertyGroup>

Also ending up have to make sure: (This is from Project Property file.)

      <ProgramDataBaseFileName>$(IntDir)vc$(PlatformToolsetVersion).pdb</ProgramDataBaseFileName>

For the compile side.

Link side is default as well.

Compiler and Linker must have different names for "ProgramDataBaseFileName"

I have not worked with DLL's as much. I have never had this problem before with static libraries are exe.

RLWA32 49,536 Reputation points

2023-03-22T14:56:03.33+00:00

I have never needed to change the visual studio default settings for a DLL project's paths as you have described in order for the visual studio debugger to load the pdb and debug into the DLL source code.

I don't know what issue you are facing, but the solution you have implemented is probably specific to your circumstances and not to DLL projects in general.
Chris Powell 0 Reputation points

2023-03-22T17:10:39.2066667+00:00

You are correct. Don't change the defaults. When you change the default you run the risk of it not working correctly. I have been doing this a long time. My projects have evolved over may years. They have to evolve with new versions of studio was well. It is difficult. I am just glad I able to figure this one out. I think I need to completely remake all my projects as close to default as possible.

Share via

Help with why project pdb will not load

1 answer

Your answer