Advanced PowerBuilder

Running Your Application

When still under development, PowerBuilder allows you to run the application in one of the two modes: Run and Debug. When using the Run mode, PowerBuilder displays the application in full glory, running scripts when appropriate and displaying dialog boxes under appropriate conditions, allowing you to review the overall effect.

In the Debug mode, you can add Breakpoints in the script or function at specific lines, which, when the application is run, causes PowerBuilder to temporarily halt the execution at that point. As the program executes, you can see how a particular variable changes, at these key points, throughout its lifetime.

Before you attempt to debug the application, it is advisable to save all currently open objects. This ensures that the Debug is working against the most up-to-date object in the library and allows you to close down painters you have been working with.

If you have unsaved objects open, then PowerBuilder prompts to do so. If you don't save them, you can't invoke debugger.

If things appear to go wrong, and doesn't appear to be running smoothly, then it is the time to close down all painters, save the objects and open the Debugger.

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