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Procedure documentationStarting the Classic Debugger Locate this document in the navigation structure

Procedure

There are two possible strategies for starting the Debugger in the ABAP Workbench:

  • By setting breakpoints then running the program

  • By running the program in debugging mode.

Setting Breakpoints

A breakpoint is a signal in a specific line of the program source code. This signal indicates to the ABAP runtime processor to stop the program at the relevant line and start the ABAP Debugger. A distinction is made between static and dynamic breakpoints. For further information about the different types of breakpoints and how to use them, see Breakpoints.

Direct Processing

You can start the Debugger without previously having set breakpoints. This is the best procedure to use when you want to test a program right from the beginning. It is also a useful procedure if you are not overly familiar with the program and therefore are not sure where best to set breakpoints. You can start the Debugger as follows:

From the Object Navigator

Select a program or transaction and choose   Program   Test   Debugging  .

In the ABAP Editor

Choose   Program   Execute   Debugging   (or the Debugging pushbutton). In the source code display, you need to select the menu   Program   Test   Debugging  .

From any screen

Choose   System   Utilities   Debug ABAP  .

From any screen

Enter /h in the command field.
Checking System Programs for Errors

To check a program or program component that is part of the ABAP Workbench (for example, the Screen Painter), you must use the system Debugger. To start the system Debugger, choose   System   Utilities   Debug System   from any screen. To stop the system Debugger, choose   Debugger   Debugging off  .

Displaying Program Attributes

You can display the attributes Fixed Point Arithmetic, System Program, and Unicode Checks of the program that has just been executed by choosing   Goto   Further Information   Program Attributes  .

Restarting the Debugger

If you choose   Debugging   Restart  , debugging mode is stopped and the system takes you to the initial screen of the last transaction you called. If, for example, you started an ABAP program in debugging mode from transaction SE38 (ABAP Editor), choosing   Debugging   Restart   will take you back to the screen titled ABAP Editor: Initial Screen. If you want to restart the program in debugging mode, choose the menu   Program   Execute   Debugging   or choose the Debugging pushbutton.

Switching Between the Single-Process and Two-Process Debugger

As of Release 6.40, you can preset the call for the new Debugger in the ABAP Editor by selecting the menu   Utilities   Settings   Debugging   New Debugger  . In the debugging mode, you can switch from the single-process Debugger to the Two-Process Debugger through the menu option   Debugging   Switch to New Debugger  .