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How to watch StringBuilder strings while debugging?
Hi, I was wondering why I can't make my VS 2008 to watch StringBuilder string-values while debugging?
According to this article from Code Magazine:
www.code-magazine.com/articleprint.aspx?quickid=0503061&printmode=true
, it should be possible, even in VS 2005 (standard) according to figure 3 & 4 in the article.
What am I missing?
ps: i'm a newbie 
BR Lars
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Just highlight over the string you are adding to the SB.. you will see what it is adding. As far as breakpoints or a watch, hmm, I would set something like a conditional watch that dumps the tostring method of the sb, then you will see it being built but you will soon run out of realistate in the debugger for long strings. If that is the case you could create a substring method to display just the last few lines at once...
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Hi TheArchitectmc, thanks for your reply.
While debugging, it is interesting to be able to see the actual value of the StringBuilder "string" as it is shown in the article (figure 3), not just what is added.
CloseUp of figure 3 here:
www.code-magazine.com/ShowLargeArticleImage.aspx?QuickID=0503061&Image=figure3.tif[^]
Apparently even in VS 2005, it is possible to do what I ask for, as you can see in the CloseUp picture at "m_StingValue", where the user are offered 3 different visualizer types for better viewing.
Since it is advised to use StringBuilder "strings" instead of normal strings for many purposes, I would say that being able to watch these while debugging, should be a mandatory option "out of the box", without the need for adding code.
I hope someone can help
BR Lars
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LarsXYZ wrote: Apparently even in VS 2005, it is possible to do what I ask for, as you can see in the CloseUp picture at "m_StingValue", where the user are offered 3 different visualizer types for better viewing.
Hmm, Visual Studio has what are called 'Visualizers' there is a special folder you place them in on your installation of VS. I think that is what you are seeing.
Here is a link for one some one created:\
Platinum Bay - StringBuilder Visualizer[^]
Hope this is what you are looking for. But you could also build your own custom stringbuilder visualizer if you wanted, I can see the whole thing in my head, so I have never needed one, I do use other visualizers for LINQ and Lambda Expressions...
~TheArch
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Hi TheArchitectmc, thanks again for your reply.
I tried the StringBuilder visualizer from Platinum Bay & copied the dll to the visualizers folder, like:
c:\MVS_2008\Common7\Packages\Debugger\Visualizers\StringBuilderVisualizer.dll
In a project I created a reference to the StringBuilderVisualizer.dll and wrote the Imports statement (Imports StringBuilderVisualizer) in the start of my code.
That didn't work & the new StringBuilderVisualizer was stated as an "unused" reference??
How can that be?
I must say that i'm quite surprised if the feature I'm asking for, isn't in the VS 2008 standard package
Basically, the only info I get when watching StringBuilder "strings" is:
Capacity
Chars (with a standard message: In order to evaluate...)
Length
MaxCapacity
Thats it!
The most important part: The actual string-value, are missing 
BR Lars
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LarsXYZ wrote: I tried the StringBuilder visualizer from Platinum Bay & copied the dll to the visualizers folder, like:
c:\MVS_2008\Common7\Packages\Debugger\Visualizers\StringBuilderVisualizer.dll
This looks correct...
LarsXYZ wrote: In a project I created a reference to the StringBuilderVisualizer.dll and wrote the Imports statement (Imports StringBuilderVisualizer) in the start of my code.
That didn't work & the new StringBuilderVisualizer was stated as an "unused" reference??
How can that be?
I must say that i'm quite surprised if the feature I'm asking for, isn't in the VS 2008 standard package
I don't think you need a hard refrence to the assembly, Visual Studio will pick up the visualizer automatically. Or should at least. With some visualizers there are extra steps requited to registed them with Visual Studio. Visual Studio is built to be extensible. It's not ment to be a complete solution for every vertical or horizontal market that tried to use it. Microsoft avoided this on purpose. It would make sence that StringBuilder should be something you should be able to inspect, however, due to the nature of how it is used in various Vertical and Horizontal markets it makes sence that they left the implimentation to the development team to design a custom visualizer for ther spicific needs since a hugh string can have may complicated types of data, it could be XMAL, XML, HTML, searialzed String objects, etc. So allowing the development team to creat and extend this feature makes perfect sence. As I have said when I use a StringBuilder I view it as mearly a container, I know exactly what is in the container and StringBuilder never does anything but the operations exposed, so if you are doing advanced things like string replacments etc, it could be useful to have a visualizer, however I sdon't beleive this is a good design practice, I just put exactly waht I want in it, if there is any preprocessing on the data that goes in I do it before and leave the contents completly as they are until such a time as I 'dump' the contents of the StringBuilder to a stream etc.
Take a look at these two MSDN articles on visualizers:
How to: Write a Visualizer[^]
How to: Use a Visualizer[^]
Let me know how it goes...
Looks like you are fustrated but making progress!
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Hi TheArchitectmc
Thanks a lot for your replies
Finally I succeeded with the StringBuilderVisualizer, which loads automatically.
It works fine with a listbox, I just had to discover how to activate it
BR Lars
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LarsXYZ wrote: Finally I succeeded with the StringBuilderVisualizer, which loads automatically.
It works fine with a listbox, I just had to discover how to activate it
That is great news I had the same sort of problem when I started using visualisers. Next since you are starting out I would suggest you get to better know the full power of Visual Studio and download the Visual Studio SDK and look at the examples. Also take a look at DSL's they provide a way to design and develop an architecture specific to a horizontal or vertical market and much more. Also look into T4 it's a powerful code generating template that you can embed .NET in and reuse in many other projects and create specific types of start-up projects.
~TheArch
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Works fine for me in VS 2008.
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Hello,
I am working in Visual Studio 2008. I currently have a project that was created years ago that deals with COM components. Now, however, I need to add new functionality to this old project. The new functionality would be easiest if we used ATL. However, the problem is that the old project is not an ATL project.
So, my question is: Is there any (easy) way to convert my old project to an ATL compatible project?
Thanks in advance,
Nick
P.S. If my description is too vague or there are any questions just let me know. Thanks.modified on Tuesday, March 2, 2010 2:21 PM
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And this has what to do with the .NET Framework??
Ask this in the C/C++/MFC forum instead.
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Working with VSTS 2008. Looking for an addin that would allow development for bluetooth headsets [cellphone headsets/earphones] Ideally, none of the features of VSTS e.g. "Intellisense" would not be lost. Additionally, looking for information on the existence of emulation for bluetooth headsets by brand and model. Guidance sought
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Bluetooth devices do not use the .NET Framwework.
I know the language. I've read a book. - _Madmatt
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Much thanks for your timely reply. I am a systems administrator and not a developer seeking some guidance on the process of development for bluetooth headsets. Would appreciate some continued guidance on how to go about developing code for bluetooth headsets. Is there a broadbased development platform that would work for the majority of retail brands? Is there emulation for the variety of models. Much appreciation for your continued support.
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I've never heard of such a thing. I've also never heard of anyone developing code for a headset. What are you trying to do with this?
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Much thanks for your reply. I write as a Windows systems administrator and would like to cultivate my knowledge in development. In the interim, I have been told that the .NET framework does not figure into bluetooth. I have been deliberating over an idea where the cellphone headset that often accompanies cell phones could be used to control another type of device. It is the ability of the headset to convert speech into commands that I would like to direct to another type of electronics.
My novice status requires that I seek guidance from the informed. My thought was that an idea the held my attention would be a motivating factor while working through the learning curve. I would ask the following:
- Is there a bluetooth development platform that would would include most of the major brands?
- What would be the barriers to to such a project?
Visual Studio Teams Suite was part of my initial query only because it was given to me at a technet session. Any guidance would truly be appreciated.
Cordially,
Maurice Newsome, Microsoft Certified Professional
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mauricemcse wrote: It is the ability of the headset to convert speech into commands that I would like to direct to another type of electronics.
It's not the headset that does anyn kind of speech command interpretation. That's the job of the device that the headset is paired to.
mauricemcse wrote: - Is there a bluetooth development platform that would would include most of the major brands?
No.
mauricemcse wrote: - What would be the barriers to to such a project?
A complete understanding of Bluetooth and what it's capabilities and limitations are.
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Hello,
I would like to ask why do I get a run time error that says
"invalid insert into command" while updating a database records. But if the database records field is less than 8 it works well.
The database I am using is ms access/.mdb and the connection I use is oledb connection.
Any comments or suggestion are kindly appreciated.
Thanks,
dfan23
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That error indicates you are trying to insert some invalid data into your database. Without knowing how you db is laid out and what you are trying to insert, there's no way to know what went wrong.
Common problems include trying to save data that isn't consistent with the db field definition, trying to duplicate a primary key value, trying to save into a field that doesn't exist, etc.CQ de W5ALT
Walt Fair, Jr., P. E.
Comport Computing
Specializing in Technical Engineering Software
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Hello,
Sir this my database
FIELD Name | Data Type
ID number
lastName text
firstName text
middleName text
contactNum number
add text
eAdd text
status text
position text
This is my save code command
Try
con.Open()
Dim dt As New DataTable
Dim ds As New DataSet
ds = New DataSet("DataSet")
ds.Tables.Add(dt)
Dim da As OleDbDataAdapter
da = New OleDbDataAdapter("Select * from empTable", con)
da.Fill(dt)
con.Close()
Dim newrow As DataRow = dt.NewRow
With newrow
.Item("ID") = Val(txtEmpIDAdd.Text)
.Item("lastName") = txtLastAdd.Text
.Item("firstName") = txtFirstAdd.Text
.Item("middleName") = txtMiddleAdd.Text
.Item("contactNumber") = Val(txtContactAdd.Text)
.Item("add") = txtAddressAdd.Text
.Item("eAdd") = txtEmailAdd.Text
.Item("status") = cmbStatusAdd.Text
.Item("position") = txtPositionAdd.Text
End With
dt.Rows.Add(newrow)
con.Open()
da = New OleDbDataAdapter("Select * from empTable", con)
Dim cb As New OleDbCommandBuilder
cb = New OleDb.OleDbCommandBuilder(da)
da.Update(dt)
con.Close()
Catch ex As Exception
MsgBox(ex.ToString)
End Try
This save code does not work if my database field is 9 above,
but when I delete some fields the code work.
Thanks for immediate response.
Thanks,
dfan23
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Hello,
I got the solution now sir.
I have noticed that word "position" is a reserved word in
database
thanks,
dfan23
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Great! Glad to hear you found the problem.
I've run into problems with reserved words, too. It can be very frustrating!CQ de W5ALT
Walt Fair, Jr., P. E.
Comport Computing
Specializing in Technical Engineering Software
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Your 8th field appears to have an issue when inserting into the database.
Post some code here and someone will be able to help.Me, I'm dishonest. And a dishonest man you can always trust to be dishonest.
Honestly. It's the honest ones you want to watch out for...
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Hello,
Sir this my database
FIELD Name | Data Type
ID number
lastName text
firstName text
middleName text
contactNum number
add text
eAdd text
status text
position text
This is my save code command
Try
con.Open()
Dim dt As New DataTable
Dim ds As New DataSet
ds = New DataSet("DataSet")
ds.Tables.Add(dt)
Dim da As OleDbDataAdapter
da = New OleDbDataAdapter("Select * from empTable", con)
da.Fill(dt)
con.Close()
Dim newrow As DataRow = dt.NewRow
With newrow
.Item("ID") = Val(txtEmpIDAdd.Text)
.Item("lastName") = txtLastAdd.Text
.Item("firstName") = txtFirstAdd.Text
.Item("middleName") = txtMiddleAdd.Text
.Item("contactNumber") = Val(txtContactAdd.Text)
.Item("add") = txtAddressAdd.Text
.Item("eAdd") = txtEmailAdd.Text
.Item("status") = cmbStatusAdd.Text
.Item("position") = txtPositionAdd.Text
End With
dt.Rows.Add(newrow)
con.Open()
da = New OleDbDataAdapter("Select * from empTable", con)
Dim cb As New OleDbCommandBuilder
cb = New OleDb.OleDbCommandBuilder(da)
da.Update(dt)
con.Close()
Catch ex As Exception
MsgBox(ex.ToString)
End Try
This save code does not work if my database field is 9 above,
but when I delete some fields the code work.
Thanks for immediate response.
Thanks,
dfan23
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