Layer-Aware Debugging

Use

Layer-aware debugging (software layer-aware debugging, profile-controlled debugging) is useful in the following situations:

You want to debug only the relevant part of the source code (that is, the code for which you are responsible). All irrelevant code (system framework and so on) is hidden during the analysis. In addition to the actual source code, you also see the entry points, that is, who is calling your layer and with which parameters.
You want to get through the code in big steps by jumping from layer to layer or from component to component, instead of single-stepping through the whole code until you finally reach the point you actually want to analyze.

Caution
You can execute layer-aware debuggin only with the help of the standard ABAP Debugger (and not with the classic ABAP Debugger).

Procedure

Proceed as follows to use Layer-Aware Debugging:

You can predefine and save suitable persistent object sets including layer profiles (profiles) with the SLAD Cockpit (transaction SLAD) tool.

In a layer profile you combine object sets that consist of packages, programs, or function modules, for example.

For each object set you can specify whether or not you want to see the relevant code during debugging. In addition, you can specify whether you want to stop at the entry point and/or exit point of the object set.
Start the new ABAP Debugger, for example, using breakpoints.
Activate Layer-Aware Debugging. For this, select the profile to be used or a visible object set.
You can now analyze the source code by jumping from object set to object set.

See Using Object Sets and Profiles in the ABAP Debugger.

Defining Persistent Object Sets and Layer Profiles

You can view, predefine, and save persistent object sets and layer profiles with the tool SLAD-Cockpit (transaction SLAD).

The left-hand side of the initial screen contains a navigation tree. You can use it to browse through all existing profiles and object sets. To switch the navigation tree on or off, use with the quick info text Hide/Show Trees. The navigation tree consists of three sections: Favorites, local objects, and the component hierarchy.

You can assign profiles and object sets to an application component if you want to offer them for reuse by other users.

Note

Profiles or object sets that are not assigned to any component are automatically stored as local objects.

To view the local objects of other users, open the context menu of Local Objects and choose Select Other Users. In the new dialog box, enter the name of the relevant user. You can also select an item from Local Objects or from the Component Hierarchy and add it to your Favorites list.