Special QuickWatch for a DataSet

• Download source files - 14 Kb
• Download demo project - 200 Kb

Introduction

I am working on an ERP that is dealing with datasets a lot, and every time I need to know the contents of the dataset during debugging I try to make a quick watch but it has caused me headaches so I decided to make my own dataset quick watch.

How does it work?

I wrote my code using C#. I started by creating an Extensibility Projects from VS.NET's New Project menu. The wizard shows up and now the main idea behind this addin is how to pass an object from the VS.NET debug mode to the add-in. I did a lot of search but I did not find anything. The only way to know what is going in the debug mode is to use DTE.Debugger.GetExpression.

How did I insert my button in the context menu?

The wizard adds the created button (Command) in the Tools menu so I need to change the Tools to the context menu and to do that I replaced the Tools with Code Window, noting that the status for the command is (int)vsCommandStatus.vsCommandStatusUnsupported +(int)vsCommandStatus.vsCommandStatusInvisible to show it just when I need it:

// add the command to the right click context menu 

// note that when I insert the command it's inserted disabled

// "(int)vsCommandStatus.vsCommandStatusUnsupported +

// (int)vsCommandStatus.vsCommandStatusInvisible"


Command command = commands.AddNamedCommand ( addInInstance, DSWatchNode ,
        DataSet Quick Watch, DataSet Quick Watch, true, 60, ref contextGUIDS,
        (int)vsCommandStatus.vsCommandStatusUnsupported +
        (int)vsCommandStatus.vsCommandStatusInvisible ); 
CommandBar commandBar = (CommandBar)commandBars[Code Window]; 
CommandBarControl commandBarControl = command.AddControl(commandBar, 1); 

I have found a great article talking about addin and context menu in code project written by Erick Sgarbi called strongly typed collection and it was very useful

How to know if the selected test is a dataset?

After capturing the selected text i can use it as an expression in the Debugger.GetExpression() method of the application and evaluate anything I want. Now I will try to cast the selected text to dataset by evaluating the following:

string fileExtintion;
TextSelection _TextSelection;

_TextSelection = (TextSelection) applicationObject.ActiveDocument.Selection;

str = _TextSelection.Text;

fileExtintion=applicationObject.ActiveDocument.FullName.Substring(
                      applicationObject.ActiveDocument.FullName.Length-2 ) ;

switch(fileExtintion.ToLower() )
    {
    case "cs":
        isDataSetExpression="(System.Data.DataSet)"+str+".Tables";
        getXmlExpression="((System.Data.DataSet)"+str+").GetXml()";
        break;

    case"vb":
        isDataSetExpression="ctype("+ str +",System.Data.DataSet).Tables";
        getXmlExpression="ctype("+ str +",System.Data.DataSet).GetXml()";
        break;
    }

//cast the selcted text to dataset 

expr = debugger.GetExpression(isDataSetExpression,true,500);

if (expr.Value.IndexOf("error:")>-1)
{
    System.Windows.Forms.MessageBox.Show("This is not a DataSet!");
    return;
}

If the expr object does not have error message it will be a dataset:

if (expr.Value.IndexOf(error:)>-1) 
{
    System.Windows.Forms.MessageBox.Show(this is not DataSet!!);
    return;
} 

How to get the content of the dataset?

I could not get the object from the debugging project so I have to know the selected dataset XML contents by evaluating selectetDataSet.GetXML.

Using the code

Run the add-in setup file and after installing the add-in you will be able to watch any dataset by selecting it in the debug mode and choosing "DataSet Quick Watch" from right-click menu.

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Great little tool Member 3880612 1:30 10 Sep '09   I always go a bit cross-eyed when I have to start drilling down in the default QuickWatch tool to get to the DataSet data. This is saving me a lot of time. Cheers! Sign In·View Thread·PermaLink Problems with DsWatch in .net 2002 stvan 9:38 21 May '09   Hi, I don´t know how I can use it in .net 2002. There is a possibility that can I add it to my version of .net? or only it is for .net 2003 My framework is v1.0.3075, and moreover I added it to the IDE and register it with regasm.exe but the problem persist. I looked it in Add-in Manager but it doesn´t appear, please could you help me? Sign In·View Thread·PermaLink WoW!!!! pinkchand 7:23 4 Apr '07   This is what I am looking for at the time of debuging. WoW!!! You did a such a Greatttt Job. Thanks Chandresh patel Sign In·View Thread·PermaLink Problem.................. fadee 21:57 2 Aug '06   I am getting following error... I have installed it, whenever I try to load the plug-in from visual studio 2003 plug-ins menu, it gives following error. --------------------------- Microsoft Development Environment --------------------------- The Add-in 'DSWatch' failed to load or caused an exception. Would you like to remove this Add-in? If you choose yes, you will need to reinstall the Add-in to use it again. Error Message: Error number: 80040154 --------------------------- Yes No --------------------------- Any idea? ------------------- Therez No Place like ... 127.0.0.1 Sign In·View Thread·PermaLink Re: Problem.................. zipperle 22:36 6 Sep '06   I have the same problem and error message. Can anyone help me to solve it please? Sign In·View Thread·PermaLink Re: Problem.................. fadee 3:32 7 Sep '06   Try copying the DSWatch.dll in \Microsoft Visual Studio 2003\Common7\IDE If it still does not work, try following. 1 - Uninstall it 2 - Install COM Explorer (download from download.com - a hand tool to explore registered com components) 3 - Remove all registery enteries related to DSWatch Good Luck eff-kay;P ------------------- Therez No Place like ... 127.0.0.1 Sign In·View Thread·PermaLink Re: Problem.................. zipperle 21:56 10 Sep '06   Thanks a lot fadee, copying it to the IDE folder solved the problem Sign In·View Thread·PermaLink Re: Problem.................. fadee 3:35 7 Sep '06   try this as well... http://weblogs.com.pk/fahad/archive/2005/04/09/1660.aspx[^] ------------------- Therez No Place like ... 127.0.0.1 Sign In·View Thread·PermaLink How to use the add-in as non-administrator account Boudino 0:21 23 Jun '06   Hi I'am developing under common account, not being member local Administrators group. DSWatch does't work for me. It even no load into VS, only error message box appeares saying: "The DSWatch plugin failed to load or caused an exception." and Error Number: 80040154. If I log in as administrator, everything is OK. What can I do? Where I should set what, e.g. permissions? I have tried to give access to my account to any path and any registry key I found and nothing helps. Thanks Sign In·View Thread·PermaLink It does not work at all Ihor Bobak 10:04 1 Dec '05   For me it always tells "This is not a DataSet, DataTable or DataRow!". I tried numerous versions of this plugin - everything works in the same way. Can anyone give a link where I can download the last version with all fixes? Sign In·View Thread·PermaLink Re: It does not work at all Mika 2:07 25 Apr '06   Make sure you select the whole name before right-clicking and saying view dataset. Sign In·View Thread·PermaLink 5.00/5 (1 vote) Re: It does not work at all Gerardo_1978 23:08 8 May '06   sorry but I cannot work with the Dataset quickwatcher as it´s not shown on the right click menu once installed...please, could somebody help me out to configure this program? thanks... Gerardo Sign In·View Thread·PermaLink Re: It does not work at all Mika 0:11 9 May '06   Are you sure that it is enabled? In your tools menu under Add-In Manager, check that it is enabled and that it is set on startup. If not, select them and then restart visual studio. PS: Don't forget to select the whole word when you want to watch... Sign In·View Thread·PermaLink Re: It does not work at all Gerardo_1978 6:14 9 May '06   thanks, now it´s working perfectly!!! Gerardo Sign In·View Thread·PermaLink How to use in VS2005 RTM groundie 11:46 19 Nov '05   hi, has anyone installed this under VS2005 RTM? i built and ran the setup, but of course, it does not show up in the Add-in Manager. what do i need to do? thanks... hong Sign In·View Thread·PermaLink Re: How to use in VS2005 RTM fcogarrido 4:57 27 Dec '05   :( Hello. I'm can put this DSWatch Add-in in the VS2005! :( Who can't help us?!?!?! Thanks!!!!! Sign In·View Thread·PermaLink Re: How to use in VS2005 RTM fcogarrido 5:19 27 Dec '05   Hi!!! The DSWatch it's not necesary for Visual Studio 2005!!! Sorry for my little poor English. I'm from Barcelona (Spain). Y just discover the great tool, similary to this DSWatch, inside VS2005 while I was debugging! Whe you put the mouse over you dataset variable (ex. "dsArticles") then appear a little window, like typical help when you put the mouse over a some button, and have one line separate in 2 columns. At left appear one icon that "talk" about the object, and at right, appear a magnifying glass and this is the DataSet Visualizer!!! I'll surpose that this tool is come, from the beginning, in the Visual Studio 2005. Sign In·View Thread·PermaLink Re: How to use in VS2005 RTM jason@myveryownwebsite.com 7:46 24 Jan '06   Personally I hate the 'DataSet Visualizer' That comes with VS.NEt 2005. I think dsWatch does a much better job AND you can keep multiple dsWatch results around for comparisons. Please for the love of juicy goodness everywhere, please port DSWatch to VS.NET 2005! Sign In·View Thread·PermaLink 2.00/5 (2 votes) Re: How to use in VS2005 RTM christianArg 4:26 8 Apr '08   GRANDE MAESTRO, me salvaste la vida (thank you) Sign In·View Thread·PermaLink Good Job Hamrosh ....:) 22:44 21 Oct '05   Good Job Moh'd keep working and we will wait more ... Sign In·View Thread·PermaLink 2.00/5 (1 vote) Great Job! Gerald Gibson Jr 7:29 10 Oct '05   I was getting REAL tired of drilling down through Quick Watch and was thinking of building something like this. Then I decided to do a google search first. Just saved me alot of time on a tool that I didnt HAVE to use but sure made things less frustrating. And unlike many Visual Studio add-in tools I have tried this one actually works! Great work. Sign In·View Thread·PermaLink Another fix - columns with all-null values disappeared Uri Dor 2:27 25 Sep '05   Another fix here (downloadable source is a wonderful thing): If you have a dataset in which a column has only null values, that column won't be shown because GetXml() ignores it, and ReadXml() won't introduce the column to the DS. That's where GetXmlSchema() and ReadXmlSchema() step in. The changes (roughly, I can send you the source code): - Connect.Exec(): add getXmlScehmaExpression="((System.Data.DataSet)"+str+").GetXmlSchema()"; call GetExpression on it too pass both Values to DatasetWatchFrm.getXml() - DatasetWatchFrm.getXml(): ReadXmlSchema() before ReadXml() Sign In·View Thread·PermaLink 1.67/5 (5 votes) proposed fix for "root invalid " error Uri Dor 23:38 21 Sep '05   Hi, Thanks for a great tool - I can't work without it... I poked around the project in the debugger and found that the cause for the "root invalid at 1,1" problem (at least the way I reproduced it) was a timeout of 500 milliseconds (MSDN says 500 minutes, I tend to disagree) in the GetExpression method. The change I suggest is to increase the timeout to 5 seconds and to show a message if that timeout isn't enough. The code change (tested on VS.NET 2003) is in Connect.cs line 175. Instead of: expr = debugger.GetExpression(getXmlExpression,true,500); _DatasetWatchFrm.getXml(expr.Value ); it should be: int getxml_timeout = 5000; expr = debugger.GetExpression(getXmlExpression,true,getxml_timeout); try { _DatasetWatchFrm.getXml(expr.Value ); } catch(Exception) { string message = expr.Value; if(message.IndexOf("timed out") != -1) message += string.Format(" ({0} msecs)", getxml_timeout); MessageBox.Show(message); return; } Regards, Uri Dor Sign In·View Thread·PermaLink Want your advise Mo7ammed_Farid 6:39 15 Jul '05   I'll start to build a small ERP solution, i want to know about the mos useful refrence about the erp database. Thanks, Sign In·View Thread·PermaLink Great Tool... fadee 23:49 8 Apr '05   Great work! I have extended it a bit and it has saved many hours of my development life Extension available at http://weblogs.com.pk/fahad/archive/2005/04/09/1660.aspx[^] Fahad fahadkhalil.com[^] ------------------- Therez No Place like ... 127.0.0.1 Sign In·View Thread·PermaLink 1.00/5 (1 vote)

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