MPS 2021.3 Help

Watches

While the Evaluate Expression command from the context menu of the Variables pane enables you to see one expression at a time, the Watches pane shows multiple expressions that persist from one debug session to another, until you remove them.

You can create watches in this pane, in the Variables pane, and also in the editor.

Watch expressions are always evaluated in the context of a stack frame that is currently inspected in the Frames pane. If an expression cannot be evaluated, it is displayed with a question mark.

Open the Watches pane

By default, the Watches pane is hidden and the watches are shown in the Variables pane.

  • To have the Watches pane displayed separately and view the configured watches in it, release the Show watches in Variables tab toggle button on the toolbar of the Variables pane. By default, the button is pressed.

  • To hide the Watches pane and view the watches in the Variables pane, press the Show watches in Variables tab toggle button on the toolbar of the Watches pane.

Toolbar

Item

Shortcut

Description

New Watch Button

Insert

Click this button to create a new watch.

Remove Watch button

Delete

Click this button to remove the selected watch from the list.

Move Watch Up button Move Watch Down button

Alt+UpAlt+Down

Use these buttons to change the order of watches.

Duplicate Watch button

Ctrl+D

Use this button to create a copy of the selected watch.

Show watches in Variables tab

Show watches in Variables tab

Use this toggle button to have the Watches pane hidden or shown. By default, the button is pressed and displayed on the toolbar of the Variables pane. Consequently, the Watches pane is hidden and the watches are shown in the Variables pane.

  • To have the Watches pane displayed separately and view the configured watches in it, release the Show watches in Variables tab toggle button. The Watches pane appears with the Show watches in Variables tab toggle button on the toolbar.

  • To hide the Watches pane and view the watches in the Variables pane, press the Show watches in Variables tab toggle button on the toolbar of the Watches pane. The toggle button returns to the default location on the toolbar of the Variables pane.

Item

Shortcut

Description

New Watch

Insert

Choose this command to create a new watch. A text field opens, where you can enter new watch expression.

Remove Watch

Delete

Choose this command to delete the currently selected watch expression from the list.

Edit

F2

Choose this command to change the selected watch expression.

Remove All Watches

Choose this command to delete all watch expressions from the list.

Inspect

Available for fields, local variables and reference expressions. Choose this command to open the Inspect window for the node, which allows you to perform the same operations as those available in the stack frame, with the only difference that the root node is the one you have selected. You can recursively call the new Inspect windows from within each other. Each window is not modal and immediately reflects all changes in its subtree.

Jump to Source

F4

This command opens the source code of the selected variable or field in the editor and places the caret on a proper line.

Copy Value

Ctrl+C

Copies the selected node value to the clipboard.

Copy Name

Copies the selected node name to the clipboard.

Last modified: 07 October 2021