Microsoft Script Debugger is relatively minimal debugger

Debugger

A debugger or debugging tool is a computer program that is used to test and debug other programs . The code to be examined might alternatively be running on an instruction set simulator , a technique that allows great power in its ability to halt when specific conditions are encountered but which...

 for Windows Script Host

Windows Script Host

The Microsoft Windows Script Host is an automation technology for Microsoft Windows operating systems that provides scripting capabilities comparable to batch files, but with a greater range of supported features...

-supported scripting languages, such as VBScript

VBScript

VBScript is an Active Scripting language developed by Microsoft that is modeled on Visual Basic. It is designed as a “lightweight” language with a fast interpreter for use in a wide variety of Microsoft environments...

 and JScript

JScript

JScript is a scripting language based on the ECMAScript standard that is used in Microsoft's Internet Explorer.JScript is implemented as a Windows Script engine. This means that it can be "plugged in" to any application that supports Windows Script, such as Internet Explorer, Active Server Pages,...

. Its user interface allows the user to set breakpoint

Breakpoint

In software development, a breakpoint is an intentional stopping or pausing place in a program, put in place for debugging purposes. It is also sometimes simply referred to as a pause....

s and/or step

Program animation

Program animation or Stepping refers to the very common debugging method of executing code one "line" at a time. The programmer may examine the state of the program, machine, and related data before and after execution of a particular line of code...

 through execution of script code line by line, and examine values of variables and properties after any step. In effect, it provides a way for developers to see script code behavior as it runs, thus eliminating much of the guess-work when things don't quite work as intended.

Microsoft considers it to be deprecated in favor of the more sophisticated Microsoft Script Editor

Microsoft Script Editor

The Microsoft Script Editor is an optional tool included in Microsoft Office 2000 through Office 2003 as well newer versions of office and is found in "C:\Program Files\common files" directory.It allows one to work with HTML code, DHTML objects, and script in an Office document from within an...

 (MSE.EXE), an optional tool included in Microsoft Office 2000

Microsoft Office

Microsoft Office is a non-free commercial office suite of inter-related desktop applications, servers and services for the Microsoft Windows and Mac OS X operating systems, introduced by Microsoft in August 1, 1989. Initially a marketing term for a bundled set of applications, the first version of...

 through Office 2003. Also, Internet Explorer 8

Internet Explorer 8

Windows Internet Explorer 8 is a web browser developed by Microsoft in the Internet Explorer browser series. The browser was released on March 19, 2009 for Windows XP, Windows Server 2003, Windows Vista, Windows Server 2008, and Windows 7. Both 32-bit and 64-bit builds are available...

 comes with a different, tightly integrated JScript debugger part of the Internet Explorer Developer Tools.

Features

According to Microsoft, the Script Debugger provides these traditional debugging features:

• Ability to set and clear breakpoints.
• Ability to step through and over procedures.
• Ability to display and change the values of variables and properties.
• Ability to evaluate expressions.
• Ability to view the call stack, and navigate to any currently loaded procedure.

Additionally, it can open and edit HTML pages, and it supports script colorization for improved readability.

Limitations

The debugger has several limitations, including the following:

• The line indicator may be incorrect when stepping through inline JScript or debugging a framed document.
• When debugging documents open in Internet Explorer, only one can be debugged at a time.
• Commands typed in the Command window have no effect unless the user is in break mode.
• A breakpoint immediately after a Document.Write is ignored.
• Entering a Document.Write command while debugging, or refreshing a document in Internet Explorer while debugging it, can cause hangs or other unexpected behavior.
• Unlike in other debuggers, there is no Watch window for monitoring variables; they must be checked via manual commands.
• Unlike in other debuggers, breakpoints can't be set by clicking in the left margin; they must be set via keypress or menu.

Usage

After installation, new options can be found in Internet Explorer's

Internet Explorer

Windows Internet Explorer is a series of graphical web browsers developed by Microsoft and included as part of the Microsoft Windows line of operating systems, starting in 1995. It was first released as part of the add-on package Plus! for Windows 95 that year...

Script Debugger menu, which gets added in the View menu. Debugging can optionally be turned off from the Advanced tab in the Internet Options dialog.

External links

• Microsoft Script Debugger info & download details for Windows NT/2000/XP/2003
• Microsoft Script Debugger info & download details for Windows 98/Me