The PL/SQL Interpreter is your debugging workspace, where you can display source code, create debug actions, run program units, and execute Interpreter commands, PL/SQL, and SQL statements.
By default, two panes are always open in the PL/SQL Interpreter: Source pane and Interpreter pane.
All panes in the PL/SQL Interpreter share one toolbar. With the exception of Close, the following buttons are only activated during suspended execution of a program unit and are used for debugging.
Step Into |
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Resumes execution of the suspended program unit to the next executable statement. |
Step Over |
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Resumes execution of the suspended program unit to the next executable statement, stepping over any calls to nested subprograms. |
Step Out |
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Resumes execution of a nested subprogram, suspending execution at the next executable statement in the calling program unit. |
Go |
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Resumes execution of the suspended program unit to the end of the program unit, or to the next debug action. |
Reset |
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Exits the current debug level. If the current debug level is 1, suspended execution is abandoned. |
Close |
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Closes the PL/SQL Interpreter window. |
The Source pane displays a read-only copy of the currently selected program unit. Keywords, comments, strings, and symbols are colored differently. The first column in the left margin is reserved for icons or symbols. Source lines are numbered in the second column.
The following icons may appear:
|
Specifies the current execution location or PC (program counter). |
|
Specifies enabled breakpoint or trigger. |
|
Specifies disabled breakpoint or trigger. |
The following symbols may also display in the Source pane:
| |
Specifies the current source location.
The current source location changes as a result of PL/SQL Interpreter
commands (for example, |
=> |
Specifies the current scope location. |
B(n) |
Specifies the location of a breakpoint, where n is the corresponding debug action ID. |
T(n) |
Specifies the location of a debug trigger, where n is the corresponding debug action ID. |
The Source pane provides the following commands from a pop-up menu (right-click in Windows):
Breakpoint |
Displays the Breakpoint dialog box, where you can define a new breakpoint. |
Trigger |
Displays the Trigger dialog box, where you can define a new debug trigger. |
PL/SQL Editor |
Displays the Program Unit editor, where you can edit the current program unit. |
Note: Not all systems provide support for pop-up menus. The above commands
are also available with ProgramBreakpoints,
Program
Debugging
Trigger, and Tools
PL/SQL Editor.
Split bars Split bars enable you to change the relative amount of space occupied by each pane in the Interpreter. When the Interpreter initially appears, a split bar is located between the Source pane and the Interpreter pane. If you are using the modal Interpreter, or have inserted the Navigator pane in the modeless Interpreter, a second split bar appears.
The Interpreter pane provides a command line interface to PL/SQL and SQL. You
can enter PL/SQL statements or blocks, Interpreter commands, or SQL statements
after the PL/SQL>
prompt. (SQL*Plus statements and syntax are not supported.)
Multiline commands. While entering PL/SQL syntax at the PL/SQL>
prompt, you can press the Enter key at any time to get a secondary prompt in
the form +>.
You can display as many subsequent secondary prompts
as you need before executing the code with a terminating semicolon (;
).
Debug levels. When program execution is suspended by a debug action, the Interpreter establishes a debug level. At a debug level you can enter commands and PL/SQL statements, which may in turn be interrupted, resulting in nested debug levels. The current debug level is reflected by a new prompt in the Interpreter pane, which includes a prefix containing the current debug level number. For example, the Interpreter prompt at debug level 1 appears as:
(debug 1)PL/SQL>
Pop-up menu. The Interpreter pane provides the following commands from a pop-up menu (right-click in Windows):
Clear |
Discards all of the text in the Interpreter pane and issues a new prompt. |
New Prompt |
Issues a new prompt in the Interpreter pane. Any input after the previous prompt is ignored. |
Note: Not all systems provide support for a pop-up menu.
The Navigator pane enables you to view the current call stack, as well as view and optionally modify the values of local variables and parameters at the current scope location while you are debugging.
You can insert a Navigator pane between the Source pane and the Interpreter
pane if you want to work entirely in the Interpreter while debugging your
program units. To insert a Navigator pane, choose ViewChange View
Navigator. To hide the Navigator
pane, choose the same command again. You can also hide any other pane
by choosing from View
Change
View.
Navigator toolbar If the Navigator pane is displayed, the following also appear in the button bar:
Create |
|
Creates a new instance of the currently selected object or node. |
Delete |
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Deletes the selected object with confirmation. |
Expand |
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Expands the first level of subnode for the currently selected node. |
Collapse |
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Collapses the current level of subnode of the currently selected node. |
Expand All |
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Expands all level of subnodes for the currently selected node. |
Collapse All |
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Collapses all level of subnode for the currently selected node. |
Search Forward |
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Finds the next occurrence of the search criteria specified in the Find text box. |
Search Backward |
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Finds the previous occurrence of the search criteria specified in the Find text box. |
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