Watchpoints
A watchpoint is a conditional breakpoint that is only defined in the ABAP Debugger during a running debug session. It is one of the runtime utility components provided to debug ABAP programs and serves as an indicator to the ABAP runtime processor to interrupt further program processing from the specified point or relation. Watchpoints help ABAP developers monitor the contents of specified variables and the change of their values associated during runtime processing.
Watchpoint features are as follows:
- Watchpoints can be created while ABAP Debugger is on and are removed automatically when that debug session is terminated.
- Unlike breakpoints, watchpoints are not enabled until the specified field content is changed.
- Unlike dynamic breakpoints, watchpoints are user specific and do not prevent other users from running related application programs.
- A watchpoint may be set as local or global. The only validity of a local watchpoint is the specified program, whereas a global watchpoint is valid throughout the specified program and other associated programs it calls during runtime.
- Unlike breakpoints, logical conditions may be specified for watchpoints. A watchpoint is provided with a relational operator and comparison field to specify the conditions for interrupting.
- Like Breakpoints, watchpoints may be deleted as needed.
- Once a watchpoint is reached, it is indicated on the program statement and a corresponding alert is given.
Because a watchpoint creates a clone of the specified object, it can negatively impact performance and memory, especially with large size data objects like internal tables. Watchpoints are ideal for variables of less size that are active during runtime, but only for a short duration.