DOC: "How to Use Debug Heap from C++" Documented Incorrectly

ID: Q141493

The information in this article applies to:

The C Run-Time (CRT), included with:
- Microsoft Visual C++, 32-bit Editions, versions 4.0, 4.1, 4.2, 5.0, 6.0

SUMMARY

In the Run-Time Library reference, the section on Using the Debug Heap from Visual C++ incorrectly describes how to place an allocation made with the new operator into a _CLIENT_BLOCK. To access this section from Books Online, follow this hierarchy:

Visual C++ Books

C/C++

Run-Time Library Reference

Debug Version of the C Run-Time Library

Memory Management and the Debug Heap

Using the Debug Heap from C++

MORE INFORMATION

In a debug build of an application, you can use a special operator (new) to record the file name, the line number where the allocation occurred, and the block type of the allocation. The documentation states that if you want your allocations to be of type_CLIENT_BLOCK instead of _NORMAL_BLOCK you should include code like the following in an include file:


#ifdef _DEBUG

inline void* __cdecl operator new(unsigned int s)
      { return ::operator new(s, _CLIENT_BLOCK, __FILE__, __LINE__); }

#endif"

__FILE__ and __LINE__ are macros defined by the compiler that report the current file name and line number. Macros are filled out by the preprocessor; then the compiler replaces your call to new with this function. Therefore, the macros have already been filled out before they are inlined. Hence, they will report the header file information not the actual source location.

There are two ways to mark the correct file name and line number:

Call the debug version of the new operator directly

-or-

Create macros that replace the operator new in debug mode as in the following sample code.

Sample Code


/* MyDbgNew.h
/* Defines global operator new to allocate from
/* client blocks
*/ 
#ifdef _DEBUG
   #define DEBUG_CLIENTBLOCK   new( _CLIENT_BLOCK, __FILE__, __LINE__)
#else
   #define DEBUG_CLIENTBLOCK
#endif // _DEBUG


/* MyApp.cpp
/*  Compile options needed: /Zi /D_DEBUG /MLd
/*            or use a
/*      Default Workspace for a Console Application to
/*      build a Debug version
*/ 

#include "crtdbg.h"
#include "mydbgnew.h"

#ifdef _DEBUG
#define new DEBUG_CLIENTBLOCK
#endif

void main( )  {
  char *p1;
  p1 =  new char[40];
  _CrtMemDumpAllObjectsSince( NULL );
 }

Additional query words:

Keywords : kbcode kbdocerr kbCRT kbVC400 kbVC410 kbVC420 kbVC500 kbVC600
Version : WINNT:4.0,4.1,4.2,5.0;
Platform : NT WINDOWS
Issue type :