Setting a Breakpoint on a Variable

You can stop execution of your program whenever a variable in a specific class and field is accessed (for example, the method was called with the variable as an argument) or modified. To set this type of breakpoint, you must be running the (JPDA).

To set a breakpoint on a variable:

  1. From the main menu, choose Debug New Breakpoint (Ctrl-Alt-F8).

  2. In the Add Breakpoint dialog box, choose Variable from the Breakpoint type combo box.

  3. Type the class and field names in the text fields.

  4. From the Stop on combo box, choose:
    Variable Access to stop your program when it queries a variable in the specified class and field
    Variable Modification to stop your program when the value of the variable changes

  5. To set a condition (so the breakpoint occurs when an expression evaluates to true), type the expression in the Condition text field.

  6. Select the desired actions:
    Suspend debugging temporarily stops all threads in the debugging session when the program reaches the breakpoint.
    Print text prints a message in the Output window when it reaches the breakpoint. You can use a combination of text, substitution codes, curly braces and a dollar sign in the message (for example, {$mywatch}).

  7. Click OK.

    The breakpoint is added to the list in the Breakpoints pane of the Debugger window.
See also
Setting a Breakpoint on a Line
Setting a Breakpoint on a Method Name
Setting a Breakpoint on an Exception
Setting a Breakpoint on a Class
Setting a Breakpoint on a Thread

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