Variables view

The Variables view shows current information about buffers, datasets, parameters, properties, variables, and temp-tables while program execution is suspended during a Debugger session. It is synchronized with the stack trace, so that you can examine values at different points of execution. The Variables view allows you to make non-persistent changes to values and also allows you to evaluate properties.

By selecting the layout for the view, you can choose how you want the information to appear and how much of it you want to see. The following information appears by default (although you can opt not to see these details by modifying the layout):

Name - The name of the variable
Value - The value of the variable

You can choose to see the following information in the layout as well:

Declared Type - The way the type is defined.
Actual Type - The type object associated with the handle variable (handle:TYPE) and the actual class for class variables. If the variable has not been initialized, the value shows as a question mark, indicating it is unknown.

You can toggle whether properties of a class type are displayed or not in the Variables view by working with the Filter option in the view's context menu. Settings are remembered through multiple Progress Developer Studio for OpenEdge sessions. The filters apply only to items in the Variables view and apply to all instances shown in the top level of the Variables view.

Handle variables, class variables, and properties of a class type are expandable in the Variables view, provided they have been initialized. Arrays, buffers, and temp-tables can be expanded even if they are not initialized.

Private data members and properties will be displayed for ABL objects. However, private data members and properties of .NET objects are not displayed.

The Debug perspective includes the Variables view by default. To display it if is not open, select Window > Show View > Debug > Variables.

The following commands are available:

Collapse All	To collapse the display of all hierarchical data elements in the list, leaving only the top-level entities visible.
	To open a drop-down menu that provides options for customizing the appearance of the view. The Filter option lets you select the data element types that you want to include in the Variables view.

The drop-down menu provides these options:

Layout

Lets you choose to display the information in the following ways:

Vertical View Orientation
Horizontal View Orientation
Variables View only

When a Debug session is selected in the Debug view, the Show Columns and Select Columns options are also available.

Filter

Show buffers, datasets, parameters, properties, variables, and/or temp-tables.