Immediate Window -- Is it possible to create an expression evaluator at runtime?

Question

For debugging I'd like the ability to have something like the immediate window where I can evaluate expressions.  For example, say I have a collection called foobar, I would like to be able to send a command to some function and have the result returned

eg.

dim result as string = xxxx.evaluate("foobar.count")

Anyone know a way to accomplish something like this?

Answer 1

Hello,

Yes, it's possible. Visual Studio will call IDebugParesedExpression interface when we enter an expression we want to watch. During this process, the expression will be parsed to tokens by using the function Tokenize(). Symbol Provider provides the information needed and finally, it returned a IDebugProperty2 object which contains value and type of the expression.

For more guidance, I recommend you refer to 'Writing a Common Language Runtime Expression Evaluator':
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb161694(VS.80).aspx

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Answer 2

I read that already, but its pretty sparse of details.  They refer to sample code, but they dont even tell you how to access the code.  Any hints on how to get this?

Answer 3

Hi,

The VSIP SDK for Visual Studio 2005 could be download at:
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=94c9970d-c247-4ded-a76d-f7b3d589e71d&displaylang=en

After downloading and unzipping the file, run the Setup.exe, we'll get the sample in the corresponding folder.

Best regards,

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Answer 4

Thanks, however that setup wont run as it requires VS 2003 installed.  A tad outdated?  Is there a way around this?

Ok, I used MSEXEC to extract, however the solution mentioned in the article wont compile.

Have you actually seen this work with VS 2008?  I cant find any references to anyone else using that interface.

Answer 5

Hello,

Yes, by default, it required VS2003, I'm sorry for the inconvinience.
I think that because the project is created in it when writing the MSDN aritcle, hence, when we open it in VS 2008, the settings is completely different. However, Visual Studio 2008 will automatically convert the version when openning the solution.
To make it work with VS2008, we need to make the settings for the project right, for example, the directory containing the source, or else, there will be build errors.

Best regards,

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