| Author: |
Carlos J. Quintero (Microsoft MVP) |
Applies to: |
Microsoft Visual Studio .NET 2002 |
| Date: |
April 2009 |
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Microsoft Visual Studio .NET 2003 |
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Microsoft Visual Studio 2005 |
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Microsoft Visual Studio 2008 |
Introduction
Add-ins can be created for the Visual Studio IDE, but also for the macros IDE
("Tools", "Macros", "Macros IDE"). The process of the Visual Studio IDE is
devenv.exe, while the process for the macros IDE is vsaenv.exe.
To debug an add-in for the Visual Studio IDE you can set the devenv.exe
executable as the external process to launch on debug. However, the vsaenv.exe
executable can't be launched independently and a different approach is needed to
debug add-ins loaded in this Macros IDE.
More Information
To debug an add-in for the macros IDE follow these steps:
- Build the add-in project in "Debug" configuration.
- Ensure that the build output folder and file are the ones used when registering
the add-in. Note: registration of add-ins for the macros IDE is not explained
here (the add-in project wizard gives the option to register the add-in for the
macros IDE).
- Ensure that the add-in is not marked to load at startup (at least during
the debugging sessions).
- Set a breakpoint in the OnConnection method of the add-in.
- In the Debug property page of the add-in project, set the "Start action"
setting to "Start project" (not to "Start external program).
- Launch by hand a second IDE instance.
- Open its macros IDE ("Tools", "Macros", "Macros IDE"). At this point the
vsaenv.exe process is created.
- In the first Visual Studio IDE with the add-in project, select the "Tools",
"Attach to Process..." menu.
- Select the vsaenv.exe process in the "Available Processes" list and click the
"Attach" button. At this point the add-in project should enter in debug mode.
- In the Macros IDE of the second Visual Studio instance, go to the "Tools",
"Add-In Manager" menu and load your add-in. At this point the breakpoint in the
OnConnection method of the add-in project should be hit and you can debug your
add-in for the macros IDE.
Go back to the 'Resources for Visual Studio .NET extensibility' section for more articles like this
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