• WindowsServiceDebugger - 16.5 Kb

Introduction

Debugging a Windows service using a VS.NET macro

While I started writing windows services I wished  Microsoft provided a way to debug with a single click as with the other project types.

I recently started reading about macros and here is a macro that can debug a windows service.

Running the macro

1. Open Windows Service project you want to debug in VS.NET
2. Open Macro Explorer.  Tools -> Macros -> Macro Explorer
3. Load Macro Project in Macro Explorer
4. Double click on “Debug” to run the macro.

Troubleshooting

Here is one of errors I got while I was creating the macro:

Unmanaged debugging not supported

Cause and Solution

This happens when debugger tries to attach to the Windows service process.

For some reason it thinks it is an unmanaged process and hence it cannot attach itself.

 The solution for this is

Install VC++.NET  which includes unmanaged debugger.

For details on how to do that refer to:

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;813134

Hope this helps!!

Happy coding J