How to: Set a Data Breakpoint (Native Only)
This topic applies to:
Edition |
Visual Basic |
C# |
C++ |
Web Developer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Express |
.gif "Topic does not apply") |
|
Native only |
|
Standard |
|
|
Native only |
|
Pro and Team |
|
|
Native only |
|
Table legend:
.gif "Topic applies") |
Applies |
|
Does not apply |
.gif "Topic applies but command hidden by default") |
Command or commands hidden by default. |
Data breakpoints break execution when a value that is stored at a specified memory location is written. If the value is read but not written, execution does not break.
Data breakpoints do not work under these conditions: if a process that is not being debugged writes to the memory location or if the memory location is shared between two or more processes. Data breakpoints do not work if the memory location is updated within the kernel. For example, if memory is passed to the 32-bit Windows ReadFile function, the memory will be updated from kernel mode and the debugger does not break on the memory write.
To set data breakpoints, the debugger must be in break mode only.
Addresses of variables change from one debugging session to the next. For this reason, data breakpoints are automatically disabled at the end of each debugging session.
If you set a data breakpoint on a local variable, the data breakpoint remains enabled when the function ends. However, the memory address it is set on no longer has the same meaning. Therefore, the results of such a breakpoint are unpredictable. If you set a data breakpoint on a local variable, the best practice is to remove or disable the breakpoint before the function ends.
Visual Studio supports a maximum of four data breakpoints per solution.
Note
The dialog boxes and menu commands you see might differ from those described in Help depending on your active settings or edition. To change your settings, choose Import and Export Settings on the Tools menu. For more information, see Visual Studio Settings.
To set a memory change breakpoint
On the Debug Menu, choose New Breakpoint and then click New Data Breakpoint
—or—
In the Breakpoints window menu, click New and then choose New Data Breakpoint.
The New Breakpoint dialog box appears.
In the Address box, type a memory address or expression that evaluates to a memory address. For example, &avar to break when the contents of variable avar change.
In the Byte Count box, type the number of bytes you want the debugger to watch. For example, if you type 4, the debugger will watch the four bytes starting at &myFunction and break if any of those bytes change value.
Click OK.