Ide/Debugger

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IDE

Visual Prolog Debugger

Visual Prolog debugger is a powerful tool for finding errors in programs. It can debug MS Windows 32/64-bit Graphical User Interface and Console applications and DLLs.

The debugger provides ability to trace program execution. Within the debugger, users can establish breakpoints, navigate through the source code (with code tracing available on both Prolog and disassembler levels), inspect variables within the presently traced clause, view facts, analyze memory dumps, observe the stack of predicate calls, explore inserted breakpoints, review registers, and more.

To start debugging use the Debug | Run menu command, the F5 hot key, or the [Image:Ide_db_Run.png]] toolbar button.

Debug Adapter

 


Starting from version 11, Visual Prolog employs a Debug Adapter for the debugging process.

A Debug Adapter is a standalone program that establishes a connection with the debugged process. Instead of directly attaching to the debugged process, the Integrated Development Environment (IDE) initiates communication with the Debug Adapter upon launch. This approach offers a practical advantage: it enables a 64-bit IDE to interact with a 32-bit Debug Adapter, facilitating the debugging of both 32-bit processes and 64-bit programs.

Consequently, in Visual Prolog 11, the IDE is exclusively a 64-bit program.

The communication between the IDE and the Debug Adapter adheres to the Debug Adapter Protocol standard.

Generation of Debugging Information

Generation of the information for Visual Prolog Debugger is controlled by copmiler's option /debug:full. By default, the Visual Prolog IDE always generates debugging information while compiling project modules.

Starting Visual Prolog Debugger

When you start Visual Prolog Debugger (with the Debug | Run menu command, or with the F5 hot key, or with the Ide db Run.png toolbar button), then the IDE builds (if it is needed) the project, runs the target executable under the debugger, and breaks the program execution at the entry point of the goal section:

Ide db Start.png

If in the Run Arguments edit control (in the Build Options tab of the Project Settings dialog) you have specified a string with command line arguments, then this string is passed to the program.

Debug Menu Commands

The Debug menu is used to control execution of the program being debugged.

The Debug Menu
  • Run (F5)
    This command continues running the application. Issuing this command, when the IDE does not debug an application, builds (if needed) the application and starts its execution under the debugger. This command is often used in conjunction with setting of breakpoints.
  • Run Skipping Soft Breakpoints (Ctrl+Shift+F10)
    This command continues running the application without breaks at Soft Breakpoint (see Breakpoints Window for more details).
  • Stop Debugging (Shift+F5)
    This command stops the program execution. The IDE becomes active in the ordinary mode.
  • Break Program
    When a program is executed (the program instructions are executed and the debugger is waiting till the program stops and returns control to the debugger), then with this command it is possible to break the program execution and to return control to the debugger. Then it is possible to inspect the call stack to see what the program is actually doing or to set a breakpoint where to catch the execution. Notice that this command is disabled while the debugger is active (when the program instructions are not executed).
  • Restart
    This command restarts the application execution under the debugger.
  • Attach process...
    It commands the debugger to attach to a process.
  • Step Over (F10)
    It instructs the debugger to execute the next line of code. If the line contains a predicate call, Step Over executes the entire predicate, then halts at the first line outside the predicate.

    If this command is used, then when you reach a predicate call, the predicate is executed without stepping through the predicate clauses (without entering into source code of the predicate).

    Use Step Over if you want to avoid stepping into predicates.
  • Step Into (F11)
    Step Into and Step Over differ in only one aspect — how they handle predicate calls.
    Step Into instructs the debugger to execute the next line of code.
    If the line contains a predicate call, Step Into executes only the call itself, then halts at the first line of code inside the predicate.

    Step Into if you want entering into clauses of each called predicate.
  • Step out of (Shift+F11)
    This command accomplishes execution of clauses of the currently executing predicate and calls the next predicate.
  • Run to Cursor (CTRL+F10)
    It commands the debugger to run the application until it reaches the location where the cursor is set. This location can be both in Visual Prolog source code or in Disassembly window.

    Place the cursor on a line and activate this command; the application will start execution until the line pointed by the cursor (if it can come to this predicate call). The Instruction Pointer will point to this line.
  • Go to Executing Predicate Source (Ctrl+E)
    If you have moved in the program source windows and have lost the Instruction Pointer, then you may execute this command. It sets the cursor to the line containing the currently executing predicate (pointed by the Instruction Pointer).
  • Break on Exception
    When this option is checked ON and if an exception occurs, then execution of program is stopped. Then you will be able to use the Run Stack window to locate your predicate in which the exception occurs. See how to Use Break on Exception for more information.
  • Toggle Breakpoint (F9)
    Using this command you can set a breakpoint to any executable line in program source files.
  • Remove All Breakpoints
    This command removes all previously set breakpoints.

How to Use Break on Exception

Some times, it is difficult to locate which your source code predicate generates an exception. In such situation the Break on Exception option can be helpful.

Start to debug your program. When its execution will be close to the expected exception, turn ON the Break on Exception option. (It can be inconvenient to turn the Break on Exception option from the begin of the debugger execution since this can bother you with some otherwise masked exceptions.)

When an exception occurs, Debugger catches it and execution of a debugged program is stopped.

Then you will be able to use the Run Stack window to locate the predicate in which the exception occurs and to inspect the sequence of calls which lead the exception. The topmost in the Run Stack window line corresponds to the last executed predicate. You can double click a line in this window to inspect a clause of the correspondent predicate. If there are no available sources for the Run Stack window entry, the Debugger will show the machine instructions in the Disassembler window.

Debugger Views

Several debugger windows can be opened from the View menu:

The View Sub-menu

The windows, which can be used in the debugger (debugger views), are:

Also the following two windows, which are not only debugger windows (debugger views), can also be used while debugging:

Project Tree


When the debugger is started, you can click the View | Project Window to display the Project Files Tree (the Project window) and the structure of the project files can be examined by exploring the project tree.

The Project Tree View

In this view, it is possible to double-click files (the project consists of) and double-click individual predicates. The result will be that a source code editor opens up with the caret pointing to the clicked item.

Source Code Windows


When the IDE starts debugging a project, it automatically runs the target executable under the debugger, and breaks the program execution at the goal section entry point. The debugger opens the correspondent (containing the goal section) Visual Prolog source file in the IDE text editor.

The Source Code View

Notice the blue arrow Ide db ArrowBlue.png pointing to the executing predicate:

mainExe::run(main::run).

This arrow is the Instruction Pointer, which always points to the currently executing predicate in source code windows. That is, you can follow the Instruction Pointer moving to trace execution of the program.

The debugger changes the color of the Instruction Pointer arrow when it executes a predicate, which fails or which raises an exception.

If you have moved in the program source windows and have lost the Instruction Pointer, then you can easy find it with the menu command Debug | Go to Executing Predicate Source (Ctrl+E). It sets the cursor to the line containing the currently executing predicate (to the line pointed by the Instruction Pointer).

Debugger Views

Run Stack Window

The Run Stack consists of three kinds of items:

  • Continue item – marked with Ide db RunStack up.png. It describes ordinary executable clauses, which do not produce backtrack points and are not trapped.
  • BackTrack item – marked with Ide db RunStack dn.png.It describes a clause of a nondeterministic predicate. The next clause of this predicate can be executed when a program failure of this clause occurs. Such items occur when a clause of a predicate, which creates a backtrack point (can produce more than one solution) is called.
  • TrapTrack item – marked with Ide db RunStack rh.png or Ide db RunStack dn rh.png. They describe a continue item (clause), which will be resumed in any case independently whether an error condition occurs or no. For example, such item is created when a predicate call is trapped with the trap/3 predicate. The Ide db RunStack rh.png icon is used to mark trapped clauses of deterministic predicates. The Ide db RunStack dn rh.png icon is used to mark trapped clauses of nondeterministic predicates.

The BackTrack (marked with Ide db RunStack dn.png) and TrapTrack items (marked with Ide db RunStack dn rh.png) are backtracking points. The clause, marked by one of these items, will be resumed and the program execution will be continued after the corresponding failure or an error occurs.

The typical example of the Run Stack window is presented in the following picture:

Ide db RunStack.png

Pop-up Menu

The Run Stack window has the pop-up context menu:

Ide db RunStack menu.png

For each selected item in the tree, this menu contains items:

  • Refresh
    It refreshes all the Run Stack window contents, rebuilds the tree.

    It also refreshes the Variables window (if it is displayed).
  • Go To Code
    Activates the Prolog source editor and places the cursor at the Prolog clause corresponding to the item selected in the Run Stack window. If the item does not correspond to a Prolog module with debug information, then the Disassembly window will be opened and the cursor will be placed onto the corresponding assembler instruction. The same action is caused by double-click a predicate call in the Run Stack window.
  • Copy Line
    It copies the selected line contents to the clipboard.
  • Show Domains
    This option turns ON/OFF displaying domains of variables.
  • Show Values
    This option turns ON/OFF displaying values of variables.

The Run Stack window can be activated by the IDE menu View | Run Stack.

Variables Window

The Variables window can be activated either by Ctrl+Alt+V or from the IDE menu View | Variables for Current Clause.

Variables Window Contents

The Variables window displays the tree of all program variables and facts from the traced clause, which are already created by the program at the current tracing step. These are: all variables and all object facts (fact variables), which are created in the clause before the executing instruction, and all class facts (fact variables), which can be used in this clause (declared in this class implementation).

The top line of the window displays the declaration of the predicate, whose clause is executed.

Ide db Vars Top.png

The Variables window content is updated after every trace step.

Pop-up Context Menu

The Variables in the Current Clause window has the following pop-up context menu:

Ide db Vars Menu.png

This menu contains items:

  • Insert into Watch Window
    Opens the Watch Window and moves there selected variable.
  • Copy
    This command copies the contents of the line selected in the Variables window to the clipboard.
  • Show as Hexadecimal
    Shows integral values in the hexadecimal format.
  • Show as Decimal
    Shows integral values in the decimal format.
  • Show as Octal
    Shows integral values in the octal format.
  • Show Domains
    This option turns ON/OFF displaying the domains after variable names.
  • Show Variable Addresses
    This option turns ON/OFF displaying the addresses after variable names.
  • Find
    This command allows search variable by name.
  • Copy Tree
    This command copies the contents of the window to the clipboard.

Facts Window

Class Facts

The Facts window always shows the current contents of all class fact databases defined in the program being debugged.

Simple example:

Ide db Facts View.png

Pressing CTRL+ALT+F opens Facts window:

Ide db Facts View3.png

Clicking icons opens sub-trees:

Ide db Facts View4.png

Facts window automatically goes to the fact that is selected in the text editor (if any):

Ide db Facts View11.png

Ide db Facts View41.png

Objects Facts you cat look like a components of object variables in the Variables window

Pop-up Context Menu

The Facts Window has the following pop-up context menu:

Ide db Vars Menu.png

This menu contains items:

  • Insert into Watch Window
    Opens the Watch Window and moves there selected fact.
  • Copy
    This command copies the contents of the line selected in the Facts window to the clipboard.
  • Show as Hexadecimal
    Shows integral values in the hexadecimal format.
  • Show as Decimal
    Shows integral values in the decimal format.
  • Show as Octal
    Shows integral values in the octal format.
  • Show Domains
    This option turns ON/OFF displaying the domains after facts names.
  • Show Addresses
    This option turns ON/OFF displaying the addresses after facts names.
  • Find
    This command allows search fact by name.
  • Copy Tree
    This command copies the contents of the window to the clipboard.

Breakpoints Window

The Breakpoints window shows all breakpoints, which have been set in the program being debugged.

You can set a breakpoint onto any executable line in program source files (or in the Disassembly window, where a breakpoint can be set on any instruction of the program being debugged).

There are two kinds of breakpoints: hard and soft. Hard breakpoints are active in any debugging mode. Soft breakpoints are active in normal debugging mode but disabled in a special mode of quick debugging, called Fast Forward Mode.

Breakpoints Window Contents

The Breakpoints window for each breakpoint includes Status, Source, Line, Count, Comment and Action, where:

  • Status
    Shows whether the breakpoint is hard or soft.
    • Hard
      If a breakpoint is hard then it will be activated in any debugging mode. A hard breakpoint is marked with the filled circle Ide db BreakPoints en.png or Ide db BreakPoints assembler.png (for assembler) or Ide db BreakPoints shifted.png (for relocated breakpoint).
    • Soft
      If a breakpoint is soft then it will be activated only in normal (not Fast Forward) debugging mode. A soft breakpoint is marked with the hollow circle Ide db BreakPoints dis.png or Ide db BreakPoints assembler disabled.png (for assembler).
    • Invalid
      A breakpoint is invalid when it is set on a line, which does not contain executable code. An invalid breakpoint is marked with the crossed hollow circle Ide db BreakPoints invalid.png.
  • Source
    This column shows the source string:
    SourceName
    where:
    SourceName
    The description of a predicate in the address space of whose clauses the breakpoint is set:
    • If the breakpoint is set in Prolog sources, then SourceName is the filename in which the breakpoint is set. It is displayed with the format:
    FileName '(' Path ')'
    The Path can use Build script symbols.
    • If the breakpoint is set in the Disassembly window, then SourceName has the format:
    --- assembler: AddressValue
    AddressValue is the hexadecimal address of the breakpoint in the assembler code of the predicate in which the breakpoint is set.
  • Line
    When the breakpoint is set in a Prolog source file, then this column displays the number of the line the breakpoint is set on.
    When the breakpoint is set in the Disassembly window, then the number of the line is equal to 0.
  • Count
    This column displays counts of breakpoints.
  • Action
    This column displays the script text of a breakpoint. The script is performed each time the program reaches the breakpoint.

Breakpoints in Prolog and Disassembly Windows

Breakpoints can be set in Prolog source files and in the Disassembly window:

  • In Prolog sources valid breakpoints can be set only on lines containing executable instructions. That is, breakpoints can be set only in predicate clauses on lines containing predicate calls, otherwise the breakpoints that are set on non-clause lines would be marked as invalid. The breakpoints that are set on clause lines that do not contain predicate calls would be shifted to the lines containing such calls (if any), but the initial line would be marked with Ide db BreakPoints shifted.png. Valid breakpoints are marked with red circles Ide db BreakPoints en.png or Ide db BreakPoints dis.png in Prolog sources and are shown in the Disassembly window as blue circles Ide db BreakPoints assembler.png or Ide db BreakPoints assembler disabled.png. If a Prolog clause has several assembler implementations (when the clause has several flow patterns), then each breakpoint in Prolog sources can generate several breakpoints in the Disassembly window.
  • Breakpoints that are set in the Disassembly window are marked with red circles Ide db BreakPoints en.png or Ide db BreakPoints dis.png. Such breakpoint can be later overwritten by a breakpoint (marked with blue circles Ide db BreakPoints assembler.png or Ide db BreakPoints assembler disabled.png) that is set in Prolog sources on the same address as the breakpoint set in the Disassembly window.
    Notice that after modification and recompilation of the project some breakpoints that are set in the Disassembly window can be cleared (if other instructions are placed at breakpoint addresses.)

All breakpoints which are set in a program are seen in the Breakpoints window.

Breakpoint Properties

Each breakpoint has properties, which can be modified in the Breakpoint Properties dialog:

Ide db BreakPoint Properties.png

In this dialog:

The top line contains:

  • If the breakpoint is set in Prolog sources, then the top line has format:
    File: FileName Line: LineNumber
    FileName is the name of the Prolog source file in which the breakpoint is set.
    LineNumber is the number of the line on which the breakpoint is set.
  • If the breakpoint is set in the Disassembly window, then the top line has format:
    Breakpoint Address:Address
    Address is the breakpoint address in the program memory as it is seen in the Disassembly window.

Hard

This check box controls the Hard/Soft state of the breakpoint. When you turn a breakpoint to Hard, then it will be activated in any debugging mode. When you turn a breakpoint to Soft, then it will be activated only in normal (not Fast Forward) debugging mode.

Counter Value

Shows the current number of activations of the breakpoint since its creation. The user cannot modify this value. This value increases by 1 each time when the program reaches the breakpoint. And resets to 0 at the beginning of the debug session.

Comment Comment string

In this edit box you can type in a Comment string. By default it has the value of the corresponding line in the source file.

Action Script text

In this box you can type in a Script text.

Pop-up Menu

The Breakpoints window has the pop-up context menu:

Ide db BreakPoints pop up.png

To activate this menu, select a breakpoint and press the right mouse button. This menu contains items:

  • Go to Source
    If the breakpoint is set in the Prolog sources, then the Go to Code activates the Prolog source code editor, and moves the cursor to the Prolog code corresponding to the specified breakpoint. If the breakpoint is set in the Disassembly window, then the Go to Code moves the view to this breakpoint in the Disassembly window. The same action is performed by double-click the breakpoint or by pressing the Enter on the breakpoint.
  • Toggle (Turn to Hard/Soft)
    Switches the Hard/Soft state of the selected breakpoints.
  • Delete
    Deletes the selected breakpoints.
  • Turn to Hard All
    Sets the state of all breakpoints that are set in the program to Hard.
  • Turn to Soft All
    Sets the state of all breakpoints that are set in the program to Soft.
  • Remove All
    Removes all breakpoints that are set in the program.

The Breakpoints window is auto-updated for any breakpoint updating.

The Breakpoints window can be activated either by Ctrl+Alt+B or from the IDE menu View | Breakpoints.

Threads Window


The Threads window shows information about the process being debugged and its threads.

The Threads window looks like following:

Ide db Threads.png

Names displayed in the header of the window columns are the following:

  • TID
    This column displays thread identifiers of all threads created by the process being debugged.
  • Current
    This column identifies the current thread by the * sign. In the Variables window you can see only variables of predicates executed in the current thread.
  • State
    Displays states of threads. States can be Running, Stopped, and Suspend.

    Running The thread has been started, it is not suspended (see thread::suspend/0->,  syncObject::wait/0->, syncObject::wait/1->) or terminated (see thread::terminate/1).

    Suspend The thread is in suspended state (see thread::createSuspended/3, thread::suspend/0->, syncObject::wait/0->, syncObject::wait/1->).

    Stopped The thread was created and then stopped on a breakpoint, but it is not suspended (see thread::suspend/0->, syncObject::wait/0->, syncObject::wait/1->). If you set suspended state to a Stopped thread, then it turns into the Suspend state.
  • Time
    Thread creation time.
  • User time
    Processor time in the user-mode used by the thread.
  • Kernel Time
    Processor time in the kernel-mode used by the thread.
  • Priority
    The priority level of the thread. Here can be displayed the following numbers 2, 1, 0, -1, -2.
  • Predicate
    This field contains the name of the currently executed thread's predicate (if it is possible to determine it).
Displayed Number Priority Name Description
2 Highest The thread can be scheduled before threads with any other priority.
1 AboveNormal The thread can be scheduled after threads with Highest priority and before those with Normal priority.
0 Normal The thread can be scheduled after threads with AboveNormal priority and before those with BelowNormal priority. Threads have Normal priority by default.
-1 BelowNormal The thread can be scheduled after threads with Normal priority and before those with Lowest priority.
-2 Lowest The thread can be scheduled after threads with any other priority.

Pop-up Menu

The Threads window has the pop-up context menu. The same commands can be activated from the Thread sub-menu of the IDE task menu.

Ide db Threads popup.png

  • Goto Source
    Opens the text editor and places the cursor onto the predicate, which created the selected thread.
  • Set Current
    Sets the selected thread as current.
  • Resume
    Resumes the run of the selected thread.
  • Suspend
    Suspends the selected thread.
  • Copy
    Copies the contents of the line selected in the Threads window to the clipboard.
  • Copy All
    Copies the contents of the Threads window to the clipboard.

The Threads window is updated after changing any displayed parameter.

The Threads window can be activated either by CTRL+Alt+H or from the IDE menu View | Threads.

Disassembly Window

The Disassembly window shows the assembly language interpretation of the inspected code.

The disassembly starts from the specified top address toward the upper memory and prints each instruction on a new line.

Each line is printed by the pattern:

LineMarkers Address [ HexCode ] AssemblerCommand

where:

LineMarkers

Are the instruction pointer Ide db InstructionPointer.png and the breakpointIde db BreakPoints en.png (or Ide db BreakPoints dis.png) markers, which can mark this line.

Address

The start address of the instruction code.

HexCode

This is the hexadecimal instruction code. This field can be shown/hidden from the pop-up menu of the Disassembly window by checking the Show OpCodes item.

AssemblerCommand

This is the assembler command corresponding to the instruction code. Assembler commands have the Intel standard assembler abbreviation. If a certain address is resolved to an external name, then this name will be printed in the command column.

The instruction, which will be executed at the next trace step, is marked with the Ide db InstructionPointer.png Instruction pointer in the LineMarkers field.

Example:

Ide db DisAsm View.png

Pop-up Menu

The Disassembly window has the pop-up context menu with the followin commands:

  • Go To Address
    Invokes the Go to Address dialog
    Ide db DisAsm Go2Address.png
    to type in the address of the instruction, which should be displayed in the top line of the Disassembly window. The Address should be specified in the hexadecimal format. This dialog allows typing symbolic external link names and symbolic CPU register names.
  • Go To EIP
    Updates the Disassembly window and places the cursor at the address of the instruction on which the program execution is suspended.
  • Breakpoint…
    Allows handling the breakpoint Ide db BreakPoints en.png (or Ide db BreakPoints dis.png) for the assembler instruction pointed by the cursor. It has the following sub-commands:
    Ide db DisAsm PopUp.png
    • Toggle Breakpoint
      Sets or removes a breakpoint at the instruction with the address pointed by the cursor.
    • Enable / Disable
      Enables / Disables the breakpoint pointed by the cursor. This item is disabled if there is no breakpoint at the address pointed by the cursor.
    • Properties
      Invokes the Breakpoint Properties dialog for the breakpoint pointed by the cursor. This item is disabled if there is no breakpoint at the address pointed by the cursor.
  • Go To Source
    Activates the IDE source code editor and sets the cursor at the predicate whose assembler instruction is pointed by the cursor in the Disassembly window. (When it is possible.)
  • Copy
    Copies lines selected in the Disassembly window to the clipboard. A selection can be performed with the Shift+Up Arrow and Shift+Down Arrow key combinations.
  • Show OpCodes
    Checking and unchecking this item hides/shows hex images of operation (instruction) codes (OpCodes). These hex instruction codes are shown in the HexCode field.
  • Source Annotation
    Checking OFF/ON this item hides/shows object names, corresponding to predicate entry points. Each object name is printed on a new line before the corresponding instruction line.
  • Show Hints
    Shows additional information about the instruction being executed.

The Disassembly window is updated after each trace step of the debugger.

Disassembly Window Commands

  • Trace Into command
    Tracing in the Disassembly window with the Step Into command performs execution of one assembler instruction (including entering into procedures if any). That is, if the Step Over command will execute a call instruction as one trace step, then the Step Into command will go into the called procedure. It usually executes disassembler instructions line after line.
  • Step Over command
    Tracing in the Disassembly window with the Step Over command performs execution of one assembler instruction (including execution of call instructions). So the Step Over command works almost the same way as the Trace Into command except for execution of call instructions. In difference to the Trace Into command, it tries to perform call instructions as one step and reaches the next line only if the called code returns to that line.
  • Run to Cursor command
    Tracing in the Disassembly window with the Run to Cursor command works in the following way. The debugger places an invisible breakpoint at the address corresponding to the instruction specified by the cursor and performs the Debug Run command. It depends only upon the program code whether the program will reach this instruction or will never reach it.

If the tracing code has no debug information, then the Disassembly window is opened initially (when the debugger starts) and the instruction pointer Ide db InstructionPointer.png points to the executing assembler instruction.

Registers Window

The Registers window shows current values of the CPU (Central Processor Unit) registers:

  • General registers
  • Segment registers
  • Flags
  • Floating-point registers

A register value is printed:

  • red, if it is changed from the last program trace step
  • blue, otherwise.

For example:

Ide db Registers fpu.png

The Floating Point command from context pop-up menu can be used to turn ON/OFF the displaying of Floating-point registers.

The Registers window can be activated either by Ctr+ Alt+G or from the IDE menu View | Registers.

Modules Window


The Modules Window shows all the modules currently loaded in this debug session. It shows the filename, path, the base address range, the code address range and the type of debug information.

Ide db Modules.png

Memory Dump Window

The Memory Dump window shows the virtual memory dump of the program being debugged. Memory dump lines have the length, which is determined by the window width. The number of printed lines window height.


Information Displayed in the Memory Dump Window

Each line in the Memory Dump window is printed by the pattern:

Address | [ HexValues ] [ ASCIIcharacters ] [ UnicodeCharacters]

where:

Address

This is the hexadecimal address of the first byte of the memory displayed in this line.

HexValues

HexValues : HexValue [ HexValues ]
This is the hexadecimal format of the memory dump. Each hex value can be an image of one, two, four or eight continued memory bytes (this is contolled by the Memory Dump window content pop-up menu).

ASCIIcharacters

ASCIIcharacters : ASCIIcharacter [ ASCIIcharacters ]
This is the same memory dump but in the format of ASCII characters (a character represenrs one byte). Unprintable characters are printed as dots.

UnicodeCharacters

UnicodeCharacters : UnicodeCharacter [ UnicodeCharacters ]
This is the same memory dump in the format of Unicode characters (a character represents two bytes). Unprintable characters are printed as dots.

Example:

Ide db Memory view1.png

The Memory Dump window title shows the module name, which memory is displayed in the window. If the module name cannot be determined, then the title displays Unknown module.

If memory is inaccessible then its state will be represented by following symbol:

  • 'R' - memory reserved
  • 'G' - guard page
  • 'X' - unknown state
  • '?' - memory free.

Content Pop-up Menu

The Memory Dump window has the pop-up context menu which contains commands:

  • Go To Address
    Ctrl+G. Invokes the Go to Address dialog
    Ide db DisAsm Go2Address.png
    to type a new top address in hex format. This dialog allows typing symbolic external link names and symbolic CPU register names. Double-click in the Memory Dump window area also activates the Go to Address dialog.
  • Go To Ptr
    Ctrl+Shift+G. Updates the Memory Dump window starting the first line from the address shown as Ptr (address defined by the memory contents of four or eight continued bytes at which the cursor is pointing if one of 4-byte Integer or 8-byte Integer is selected).
  • Undo Go to
    Alt+Left Arrow. Updates the Memory Dump window view to start from the previously used top (the first line) address.
  • Redo Go to
    Alt+Right Arrow. This operation is the counterpart to the Undo Go to. It updates the Memory Dump window view to start from the "next" top address, which was used before the Undo Go to command was implemented.
  • Set Memory Breakpoint
    This operation sets a memory breakpoint at address from the left pane.
  • Remove Memory Breakpoint
    This operation removes a previously set a memory breakpoint.
  • Copy
    Copies the selected lines to the clipboard. To select a line, click on it while holding the shift key. You can select multiple lines at one time.
  • Copy Ptr
    Ctrl+C. Copies hexadecimal representation of the specified address (four or eight bytes) to the clipboard.
  • Refresh
    Refresh the Memory Dump window contents.
  • Write Block
    This command opens the Write Memory Block dialog:
    Ide db Memory BlockWrite.png
    • Filename
      Here you should type in the name of a file in which the specified memory block should be saved.
    • Start Address
      Here you should specify a hexadecimal start address of the memory block.
    • Length
      Here you should specify a hexadecimal length in bytes of the memory block.
  • Show Hex
    Shows the column, which displays the memory dump in the hexadecimal format. This is the HexValues column in the right pane.
  • Show ASCII
    Shows the column, which displays the ASCII format of the memory dump. This is the ASCIIcharacters column in the right pane.
  • Show Unicode
    Shows the column, which displays the Unicode format of the memory dump. This is the UnicodeCharacters column in the right pane.
  • Update Speed...
    Defines the rate of the Memory Dump window updating:
    IDE db Memory menu1.png
    • High
      Performs automatic updating with the high rate.
    • Normal
      Performs automatic updating with normal rate.
    • Low
      Performs automatic updating with low rate.
    • Manual
      No automatic updating.

The Memory Dump window can be activated either by CTRL+Alt+M or from the IDE menu View | Memory Dump.