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break points and watch points

Former Member
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Hi all

Can anybody help me using break points and watch points.what do they exactly do as well..

Thanks

abap user

4 REPLIES 4

ferry_lianto
Active Contributor

Former Member
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Hi,

Break Point helps you to start debug the program starting from that point.

Watch enables to you to examine the run tiem behavior of a field.

Former Member
0 Kudos

Hi

<b>Breakpoints</b>

Instead of starting an ABAP program directly in the Debugger, you can also debug a program by creating one or more breakpoints in the program. A breakpoint is a signal at a particular point in the program that tells the ABAP runtime processor to interrupt processing and start the Debugger. The program runs normally until the breakpoint is reached.

There is also a special kind of breakpoint called a watchpoint. When you use watchpoints, the Debugger is not activated until the contents of a particular field <b>change. For further information, refer to Watchpoints.

Breakpoint Variants</b>

The Debugger contains different breakpoint variants:

<b>Static</b> The BREAK-POINT statement in an ABAP program. Static breakpoints are not normally user-specific. However, you can make them user-specific.

<b>Directly-set</b>

dynamic breakpoints Can be set in the ABAP Editor or the Debugger. Dynamic breakpoints are always user-specific, and are deleted when you log off from the R/3 System.

<b>Breakpoint</b>

at statement The Debugger stops the program directly before the specified statement is executed.

<b>Breakpoint at subroutine</b> The Debugger stops the program directly before the specified subroutine is called.

<b>Breakpoint at function module</b> The Debugger stops the program directly before the specified function module is called.

Breakpoint at method The Debugger stops the program directly before the specified method is called.

<b>Breakpoints at system exceptions</b> The Debugger stops the program directly after a system exception, that is, after a runtime error has been intercepted.

<b>Use</b>

<b>Static Breakpoints</b>

Static breakpoints are not normally user-specific. Once a user has inserted a BREAK-POINT statement in an ABAP program, the system always interrupts the program at that point. You should only use static breakpoints during the development phase of an application. You should set static breakpoints whenever more than one programmer is working on the same program and you always want to stop the program in the same place.

<b>Dynamic Breakpoints</b>

Dynamic breakpoints are user-specific. You should, therefore, use them when you only want the program to be interrupted when you run it yourself. All dynamic breakpoints are deleted when you log off from the R/3 System.

Dynamic breakpoints are more flexible than static breakpoints, because you can deactivate or delete them at runtime. They have the following advantages:

• You do not have to change the program code

• You can set them even when the program is locked by another programmer

• You can define a counter (for example, only activate the breakpoint after it has been reached five times).

<b>Special Dynamic Breakpoints</b>

Special dynamic breakpoints are useful when you want to interrupt a program directly before a particular ABAP statement, a subroutine, or an event, but do not know exactly where to find it in the program code. Event here is used to refer to the occurrence of a particular statement, for example, or calling up a method. Special dynamic breakpoints are user-specific. You can only set them in the Debugger.

<b>Transferring Breakpoints to HTTP and Update Sessions</b>

If an HTTP or update session is called from a Logical Unit of Work (LUW), new work processes are started for these new sessions. Breakpoints that were defined beforehand in the calling LUW are copied to these sessions where they can be displayed under breakpoints.

If, for example, the update module func is called via CALL FUNCTION func IN UPDATE TASK, the new work process is displayed in a second window if Update debugging was selected under Settings in the debugging mode. All the breakpoints that were set in the calling LUW can then be processed here.

<b>Static Breakpoints</b>

You should only use static breakpoints during the development phase of an application. You must remove them from your program before you transport it.

Setting Breakpoints

To set a static breakpoint, use the ABAP statement BREAK-POINT . Place the breakpoint in the line at which you want to interrupt the program.

program RSDEBUG_01.

....

if SY-SUBRC <> 0.

break-point.

endif.

....

When you run the program, the runtime processor interrupts it when the breakpoints occur. You can number your breakpoints to make them easier to identify ( BREAK-POINT 1, BREAK-POINT 2 …).

Static breakpoints are not normally user-specific. The program is, therefore, always interrupted as soon as the runtime processor reaches the line containing the breakpoint. The program is interrupted regardless of the user who executes it.

However, you can set user-specific static breakpoints using the BREAK statement followed by your user name. For example, if you use the statement BREAK SMITH , the program is only interrupted when user Smith runs it. Although user-specific breakpoints appear in the program code, they are not active when other users run the program. You should, however, be careful if an application is being used by several users with the same name.

Deleting Breakpoints

Since static breakpoints apply to all users, you must remove them from the program once you have finished testing it. In the ABAP Editor, you can find breakpoints quickly by choosing Utilities &#61614; Global search. You can also use the Extended Program Check to find them.

If you do not remove static breakpoints from your program, they will be transported to your production system. This could cause serious problems in the production system.

<b>Dynamic Breakpoints</b>

You can set up to 30 dynamic breakpoints without changing the program code. Dynamic breakpoints can be set either in the ABAP Editor or directly in the Debugger.

Setting Dynamic Breakpoints in the ABAP Editor

You can set dynamic breakpoints in the ABAP Editor regardless of whether you are in display or change mode. You can also set breakpoints directly from within the Debugger at runtime. To set a dynamic breakpoint in the ABAP Editor:

1. Position the cursor on the line of the source code at which you want to set the breakpoint.

2. Choose Utilities &#61614; Breakpoints &#61614; Set or the Stop icon. The system confirms that the breakpoint has been set.

To display a list of all dynamic breakpoints in a program, choose Utilities &#61614; Breakpoints &#61614; Display. You can use this list to navigate to a particular breakpoint or to delete one or more breakpoints from the program.

Setting Dynamic Breakpoints in Debugging Mode

To set a dynamic breakpoint in the Debugger:

1. Position the cursor on the line in which you want to set the breakpoint.

2. Select the line by double-clicking it or choosing Breakpoint &#61614; Set/delete.

The system sets the breakpoint, and displays a small stop sign to the left of the relevant line. If the line already contained a breakpoint, it is deleted.

When you finish your debugging session, the breakpoint is automatically deleted unless you have explicitly saved it.

<b>

Breakpoints at Statements</b>

You can use this special kind of dynamic breakpoint to interrupt a program directly before an ABAP statement is processed.

Prerequisites

You must already be running the program in the Debugger.

Procedure

To set a breakpoint at an ABAP statement:

1. Choose Breakpoint &#61614; Breakpoint at &#61614; Statement...

2. Enter the ABAP statement.

The system sets a breakpoint at all points in the program at which the ABAP statement occurs.

3. Choose ENTER.

The breakpoint applies to all lines containing the specified statement.

Result

The system confirms the breakpoint and adds it to the list in the display. When you finish your debugging session, the breakpoint is automatically deleted unless you have explicitly saved it.

<b>Breakpoints at Subroutines</b>

You can use this special kind of dynamic breakpoint to interrupt a program directly before a subroutine is called.

Prerequisites

You must already be running the program in the Debugger.

Procedure

To set a breakpoint for a subroutine:

1. Choose Breakpoint &#61614; Breakpoint at &#61614; Event/Subroutine.

2. Enter the name of the subroutine before which you want to interrupt the program. By default, the Program field contains the name of the program that is currently active. The system sets a breakpoint wherever the specified subroutine occurs in the program code.

3. Choose ENTER.

Result

The system confirms the breakpoint. The breakpoint is added to the breakpoints displayed.

<b>Breakpoints at Function Module</b>

You can use this kind of dynamic breakpoint to interrupt a program directly before a function module is called.

Prerequisites

You must already be running the program in the Debugger.

Procedure

<b>To set a breakpoint for a function module</b>:

1. Choose Breakpoint &#61614; Breakpoint at &#61614; Function module...

2. Enter the name of the function module before which you want to interrupt the program. The system sets a breakpoint wherever the specified event, module pool, or subroutine occurs in the program code.

3. Choose ENTER.

Result

If you entered a valid function module name, the system confirms that the breakpoint has been set. If the function module exists in the system, the new breakpoint is added to the display list.

<b>Breakpoints at System Exceptions</b>

You can use this special form of dynamic breakpoint to interrupt a program immediately after a runtime error has occurred.

Prerequisites

You must already be running the program in the Debugger.

Procedure

To set a breakpoint at a system exception:

Choose Breakpoint &#61614; Breakpoint at &#61614; System exception.

Result

The system confirms the breakpoint. The breakpoint is added to the breakpoints displayed.

When a system exception is triggered, a warning triangle appears in the line containing the statement that caused it. If you double-click the warning triangle, the internal name of the runtime error appears.

<b>Saving Breakpoints</b>

If you want to leave the Debugger temporarily, you can save your dynamic breakpoints so that they are still active when you return to the Debugger within the same terminal session.

To save the breakpoints that you have set in the Debugger:

Choose Breakpoint &#61614; Save.

The system saves all of the breakpoints that you have set in the current program. These breakpoints will remain active until you either explicitly delete them or log off from the system.

<u>You can also delete breakpoints that you have saved</u>:

• By deleting individual breakpoints from the display and then saving again. In this case, only your selected breakpoints will be deleted.

• By choosing Breakpoint &#61614; Delete all. In this case, the system deletes all dynamic breakpoints.

<b>Managing Dynamic Breakpoints</b>

The ABAP Debugger provides a convenient user interface for managing breakpoints. To open the breakpoint display, choose Breakpoints, or, from the menu, Goto &#61614; Control debugging &#61614; Breakpoints.

Functions

This display mode contains the following functions for breakpoints:

Breakpoint Display

The scrollable breakpoint display contains up to 30 dynamic breakpoints. For breakpoints that you set directly, the program name and line number at which the breakpoint occurs are displayed. For special breakpoint forms, the list displays the statements, events, subroutines, and module calls at which the relevant breakpoints are set.

Counter

In the breakpoint display, you can specify a counter. When you use a counter, the breakpoint is not activated until it has been reached a specified number of times. For example, if you enter 5 for the counter, the breakpoint is not activated until it is reached for the fifth time. After the breakpoint has been activated, it remains so, and the counter no longer appears in the breakpoint display.

Deleting Breakpoints

Position the cursor on the breakpoint that you want to delete, and either double-click the line or choose Breakpoint &#61614; Set/delete. To delete all breakpoints, choose Breakpoint &#61614; Delete all.

Activating and Deactivating Breakpoints

Position the cursor on the breakpoint that you want to activate or deactivate and choose Breakpoint &#61614; Activate/deactivate.

<b>Watchpoints</b>

Like a breakpoint, a watchpoint is an indicator in a program that tells the ABAP runtime processor to interrupt the program at a particular point. Unlike breakpoints, however, watchpoints are not activated until the contents of a specified field change. Watchpoints, like dynamic breakpoints, are user-specific, and so do not affect other users running the same program. You can only define watchpoints in the Debugger.

Use

You set watchpoints in the Debugger to monitor the contents of specific fields. They inform you when the value of a field changes. When the value changes, the Debugger interrupts the program.

Features

• You can set up to five watchpoints in a program.

• You can also specify the conditions on which a watchpoint is to become active.

• You can specify logical conditions between up to five conditional watchpoints.

• You can define watchpoints as either local or global. If you define a global watchpoint, it is active in all called programs. Local watchpoints are only active in the specified program.

• You can change and delete watchpoints.

<b>Setting Watchpoints</b>

If you want to interrupt a program when the contents of a field or structure change, use a watchpoint. You can set up to five watchpoints, including watchpoints for strings.

A watchpoint can be either local or global. Local watchpoints are only valid in the specified program. Global watchpoints are valid in the specified program, and also in all the other programs it calls.

Procedure

<u>To set a watchpoint, start the Debugger and proceed as follows:</u>

1. Choose Breakpoint &#61614; Create watchpoint or the corresponding pushbutton. The Create Watchpoint dialog box appears.

2. Decide whether you want to set a local or global watchpoint.

3. Enter the program and the name of the field for which you want to set the watchpoint. In the Program field, the name of the program currently running is always defaulted.

4. If you want your watchpoint to be activated each time the contents of the field change, the definition is now complete, and you can return to the Debugger by pressing ENTER .

5. To create a conditional watchpoint, that is only activated when a particular situation arises, choose one of the following relational operators.

Operator Meaning

< Less than

<= Less than or equal

= Equal

<> Not equal

>= Greater than or equal

> Greater than

6.

7. You can use the Comparison field option to specify whether the comparison is to be carried out with a value that you specify or with the contents of another field. Depending on your choice from step 6, enter a value or a field for the comparison.

<b>Result</b>

The system confirms the watchpoint and adds it to the list in the display. When you finish your debugging session, the watchpoint is automatically deleted unless you have explicitly saved it.

<b>Specifying Logical Links</b>

If you have more than one conditional watchpoint, you can specify a logical link between them:

OR Only one of the specified conditions must be met

AND All of the conditions must be met.

<u>To create a logical link between watchpoints:</u>

1. Choose Goto &#61614; Control debugging &#61614; Watchpoints or the Watchpoints pushbutton to open the watchpoint display.

2. Set the Logical operator between watchpoints option.

The default value is always OR .

Changing Watchpoints

1. Choose Goto &#61614; Control debugging &#61614; Watchpoints or the Watchpoints pushbutton to display the watchpoint list.

2. Choose the pencil icon in the line containing the watchpoint you want to change.

3. Change the watchpoint attributes in the Create/Change Watchpoint.

3. Choose ENTER .

<b>Deleting Watchpoints</b>

You cannot delete watchpoints by choosing Breakpoint &#61614; Delete or Breakpoint &#61614; Deactivate/activate. Instead, proceed as follows:

1. Choose Goto &#61614; Control debugging &#61614; Watchpoints or the Watchpoints pushbutton to display the watchpoint list.

2. Choose the trashcan icon in the line containing the watchpoint you want to delete.

<b>Memory Monitoring with Watchpoints</b>

You can use watchpoints to display changes to the references of strings, data and object references, and internal tables. By placing an ampersand (&) in front of the object name, you can display the reference in question in hexadecimal format. With internal tables, you can also display the table header by placing an asterisk (*) at the beginning of the name.

<b>Reward ifusefull</b>

Former Member
0 Kudos

Hi ,

You can go through this document I have uploaded.

http://www.esnips.com/doc/3ac38ce4-43f8-4fa2-baf6-1ba524471427/ABAP-Debugging

Hope it will be of some help to you..

Regards,

SP.