Debugging

The InstallAware IDE includes integrated debugging capabilities. As long as you have prepared to run your setup inside the IDE, you may make free use of any of the powerful debugging tools described below.

Running in the Debugger

• Set breakpoints as necessary. Breakpoints alert you when a certain line in your script has been reached and pause program execution. Highlight each line you wish to set a breakpoint on, and on the MSIcode tab, in the Run group, click Set Breakpoint, or press F5.
• To execute your setup and stop only at your breakpoints, on the MSIcode tab, in the Run group, click Debug, or press F9.
• To execute your setup line by line, stopping at each line, on the MSIcode tab, in the Run group, click Step, or press F8.
• To terminate the execution of your current program, on the MSIcode tab, in the Run group, click Reset, or press CTRL+F2. Be sure to close any currently active dialogs shown by your setup before terminating.

Using Variable Watches

Variable watches help you monitor the state of each of the variables used in your setup. You can therefore find out if your expected setup logic is working correctly. Moreover, you can change the values of variables while setup is running.

Displaying the Watches Window

You must first open the Watches Window which displays the variable names and their values.

• On the Project tab, in the Manage group, click Variable Watches, or press CTRL+ALT+W.

Adding a Watch

• On the MSIcode tab, in the Run group, click Add Watch, or press CTRL+f5. Type in the name of the variable you wish to watch.
• In the Watches Window, click the Add Watch button, and type in the name of the variable you wish to watch.

Editing a Watch

• In the Watches Window, select the variable name to change under the Variable Name column. Click the Edit Watch button. Type in the name of the new variable you wish to watch.

Changing a Variable Value

• Single-click on the Value column entry corresponding to the variable name displayed under the Variable Name column that you wish to override. Type in the new value.
• In the Watches Window, select the name of the variable whose value you wish to edit under the under the Variable Name column. Click the Edit Variable Value button, and type in the new variable value.

Removing a Watch

• Highlight the watch to remove. Press DELETE.
• In the Watches Window, select the variable name to delete under the Variable Name column. Click the Delete Watch button.