How to Create an External Debug Window in FoxPro for Windows

• Microsoft FoxPro for Windows, versions 2.5, 2.5a, 2.5b, 2.6, 2.6a

SUMMARY

Running the Trace, Debug, or View windows to debug an application may be difficult if the application has screens that fill or nearly fill the entire FoxPro desktop. This article describes a method for activating the Trace, Debug, and View windows in a window independent from the FoxPro desktop. This allows easy access to them for debugging purposes.

MORE INFORMATION

The following code (XWIN.PRG) activates an external window that contains the debugging tools:

   *****************************************
   * Call this XWIN.PRG

   DEFINE WINDOW xwin ;
     TITLE "External Debug/Trace/View Window" ;
     FROM 1,1 TO 45,100 IN DESKTOP ;
     MINIMIZE FLOAT GROW CLOSE SYSTEM

   ACTIVATE WINDOW xwin
   ACTIVATE WINDOW DEBUG, TRACE, VIEW IN WINDOW xwin

   * End of XWIN.PRG

How to Use XWIN.PRG

1. Use the following command to run XWIN.PRG:

   DO XWIN.PRG

   Resize the window so that the debugging tools you want are all visible and the parent window is not overly large.

   NOTE: When XWIN.PRG is run, the Trace, Debug, and View windows are placed within the external window according to their previous locations on the FoxPro desktop. It may be necessary to stretch the external window to locate them if they are outside of the window's dimensions.

2. Run the screen or application to be debugged. The external window will stay on top of the FoxPro desktop and any FoxPro screen. The external window can also be placed outside of the FoxPro desktop.

   NOTE: The external window cannot be resized if a foundation READ is in effect.