C and C++ Variables Window

See Also 

The Variables window lists the local variables in the current stack frame. By default, the Variables window opens automatically whenever you start a debugging session. You can open the Variables window by choosing Window > Debugging > Variables.

If you open the Variables window when a debugging session is running, it closes automatically when you end the debugging session. If you open the window when no debugging session is running, it stays open until you close it.

The information given for each variable includes the variable name and value. You can click the control to the left of the name to expand or collapse the variable. You can click the Value cell to edit the value directly in the Variables window. To display additional information, click the Change Visible Columns button Change visible columns icon and select columns in the Change Visible Columns dialog box.

In some cases, the debugger assigns a pound sign (#) and a number as the variable's value. This number is a unique identifier of the given instance. You can use this identifier to determine if a variable points to the same or to a different instance. You cannot edit this value.

Icons

The following table describes the icons displayed to the left of the object name in the Variables window.

Icon Description
Local variable icon Local variable
Local pointer variable icon Local pointer variable
Static local variable icon Static local variable
Static local pointer variable icon Static local pointer variable
Field icon Field
Pointer field icon Pointer field
Static field icon Static field
Static pointer field icon Static pointer field

Actions

The following table lists the actions you can perform using buttons in the Variables window

Button Description
Auto Local Variables button Shows variables only for the current source code line and the previous source code line
Show Watches button Displays watches in the window.
Create Watch button Opens the New Watch dialog box

Actions

The pop-up menu in the Variables window includes the following items.
Menu Item Description
New Watch Lets you create a new watch
Delete All Removes all objects from the Variables window
Inherited Members Includes inherited members when debugging a C++ program
Dynamic Type Automatically casts C++ variables to dynamic type
Static Members Shows static members
Output Base Lets you set the outputbase to octal (8), decimal (10), hexadecimal (16), or automatic (pointers in hexadecimal characters, all else in decimal)
Set Max Object Size Allows you to increase the default maximum variable value of 4096 bytes

See Also
  Current Context in the Debugger
C and C++ Debugging Tasks: Quick Reference
C and C++ Variables and Expressions in the IDE
C and C++ Debugger Windows

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