Microsoft Script Debugger
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Microsoft Script Debugger is relatively minimal debugger for Windows Script Host-supported scripting languages, such as VBScript and JScript. Its user interface allows the user to set breakpoints and/or step through execution of script code line by line, and examine values of variables and properties after any step. In effect, it provides a way for developers to see script code behavior as it runs, thus eliminating much of the guess-work when things do not quite work as intended.
Microsoft considers it to be deprecated. Also, Internet Explorer 8 comes with a different, tightly integrated JScript debugger part of the Internet Explorer Developer Tools.[1]
According to Microsoft, the Script Debugger provides these traditional debugging features:[2]
- Ability to set and clear breakpoints.
- Ability to step through and over procedures.
- Ability to display and change the values of variables and properties.
- Ability to evaluate expressions.
- Ability to view the call stack, and navigate to any currently loaded procedure.
Additionally, it can open and edit HTML pages, and it supports script colorization for improved readability.[2]
Limitations
The debugger has several limitations, including the following:[3]
- The line indicator may be incorrect when stepping through inline JScript or debugging a framed document.
- When debugging documents open in Internet Explorer, only one can be debugged at a time.
- Commands typed in the Command window have no effect unless the user is in break mode.
- A breakpoint immediately after a Document.Write is ignored.
- Entering a Document.Write command while debugging, or refreshing a document in Internet Explorer while debugging it, can cause hangs or other unexpected behavior.
- Unlike in other debuggers, there is no Watch window for monitoring variables; they must be checked via manual commands.
- Unlike in other debuggers, breakpoints can't be set by clicking in the left margin; they must be set via keypress or menu.
