Java Reference
In-Depth Information
Table 6.3 The stepping actions allow you to run through the program at your own pace, in order to
trace its execution path.
(continued)
Default
shortcut
Icon
Description
F7
Step Into. Steps into the method being referenced at the current execution point.
Force Step Into. Steps into the method being referenced at the current execution
point, ignoring any filters or stepping restrictions specified in the debugging
preferences.
Shift+F7
Step Out. Resumes execution of the method currently being executed, suspending
again after the method has exited.
Shift+F8
Run to Cursor. Resumes the program until the execution point reaches the line at
the current cursor location. No breakpoint is required.
Alt+F9
Pop Frame. Interrupts execution and returns to the initial point of method execution.
In the process, it drops the current method frames from the stack.
Suspend All Threads While Stepping. This verbosely titled option does exactly what
it says it will; it suspends all the running threads in the application while you step
through the breakpoints.
Show Execution Point. Highlights the current execution point in the editor, and
shows the corresponding stack frame in the Frame tab.
Alt+F10
Mute Breakpoints
, a new option in the
Debug
tool window, let you temporarily
disable all the breakpoints in the project so that code execution can continue nor-
mally. Click it once to mute the breakpoints, and then click again to reenable them.
A similar (although more precise) mechanism for avoiding breakpoints is the
Force Step Over
action. This stepping option lets you step over any code that
contains breakpoints without stopping.
Finding the current execution point
When you suspend execution, the source file (if available) associated with the cur-
rent execution point is loaded into the editor automatically to give you a frame of
reference. The current execution point (the next line to be executed) is marked
with a solid blue bar, giving you an idea where you are in the program flow. If you
visit other source files and want to return to this point, click the
Show Execution
Point
icon (
Alt+F10
) to load the current source file into the editor.
