Setting a Breakpoint with Code

Versions:  2008,2010
Published:  10/30/2010
Code:  vstipDebug0036

 

There will be times you want code to break when you are debugging without having to set a Breakpoint.  You can do this in your code quite easily.  Here is how you do it:

 

Compiler Directive

In C# and VB you need to set a compiler option that will only hit the breakpoint when debugging.  If you don't then, in your Release code, it will continue to hit the code-based Breakpoint which is generally considered a bad thing.  To do this you use the #If DEBUG compiler option.  I will demonstrate this in each of the code samples.

 

 

C#

In C# you set a Breakpoint by using the System.Diagnostics.Debugger.Break() method:

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VB

In VB you set a Breakpoint by using the Stop command:

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And there you have it!  Now you can use code to set Breakpoints.  Just as an aside, Breakpoints set in this way will NOT show up in the Breakpoints Window.