Question

Here’s something I know is probably possible but I’ve never managed to do
In VS2005(C++), While debugging, to be able to invoke a function from the code which I’m debugging.
This feature is sometimes essential when debugging complex data structures which can’t be explored easily using just the normal capabilities of the watch window.
The watch window seem to allow writing function calls but every time I try it it gives me one error or another.

Error: symbol 'func' not found
Error: argument list does not match function
Error: member function not present

Did anyone ever succeed in making this work properly? What am I missing here?

Edit: clearly, the function called should be a symbol that exists in the current scope the debugger is in.

Answer 1

Ok, Here’s what I found
CXX0040 means that ‘The C expression evaluator does not support implicit conversions involving constructor calls.‘
CXX0047 means that ‘Overloaded functions can be called only if there is an exact parameter match or a match that does not require the construction of an object.‘

So combined it means that If I want to call a function none of the arguments should have an implicit conversion and none of the arguments should need a construction.
‘implicit conversion’ in this context seem to include trivial things like converting 'String' to 'const String&'.
‘construction’ seem to include trivial copy-construction. so passing by value anything that is not a primitive type will result in an error.

So this basically leaves functions that take only primitive types or pointers.
I have just tested this theory successfully.

So if you want to be able to call a method from the watch window, add an overload which takes only pointers and primitives and in the watch window pass the arguments appropriately. To pass an object that is not a primitive pass its address.