Debug Output Location

Microsoft® DirectShow® provides facilities for debug output, with a wide variety of options for the debug output location. Possible output locations include using the normal debugger output (the default), recording to a file with a given name, or using the Microsoft Win32® standard output handle (creating a console if this handle is not already open). After the debug output location is specified, each of the following debug facilities uses the same location.

The debug output location is chosen (based on the registry) when DbgInitialise is called. DbgTerminate must be called when this process finishes using the debug output location. Other debug routines generally call these macros automatically.

To specify the debug output location, set the LogToFile value in the registry (under the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Debug\GLOBAL key) to one of the following (case-insensitive) values.

LogToFile Value Results

"Console" Use the Win32 standard output handle if it exists. If no standard output handle exists, allocate a console and use it for output.

"Deb", "Debug", or "Debugger" Use the Win32 OutputDebugString function.

Any nonempty string other than the preceding Write to file of that name.

An empty string (or the registry key does not exist) Use the Win32 OutputDebugString function.

LogToFile Value	Results
"Console"	Use the Win32 standard output handle if it exists. If no standard output handle exists, allocate a console and use it for output.
"Deb", "Debug", or "Debugger"	Use the Win32 OutputDebugString function.
Any nonempty string other than the preceding	Write to file of that name.
An empty string (or the registry key does not exist)	Use the Win32 OutputDebugString function.