Archive Collection: Debugging

I've been writing a daily article here since September 1, 2020; that's over 1,200 articles.  I haven't missed a day yet, and that includes Christmas and Easter. I'm currently on a family vacation, which makes maintaining this streak a bit...tricky.

I'm writing this in the present tense, but I'm writing it for future publication with links to past articles.  Let's hope the time-space continuum holds up.

In any case, as the slacker Firstie says to the Stony Lonesome Gate guard twenty minutes before Taps, let me get to the Point.  I've got a daily publishing streak to keep up.  But I don't want to be writing and publishing articles on vacation.  And I still want to provide you with something of value to read each day.  So I settled on creating a series of curated article lists that I think you'll find beneficial.

I'm hoping at least some of these articles are ones you haven't read before.  And if you're so obsessed with me that you have read all my articles, I'm hoping that they'll keep you busy enough that you don't come looking for me and my family 😳.  

Enjoy!

Debugging

Written Rubberducking: My Debugging Superpower

While rubber ducks make good code buddies, they make even better pen pals.

No Longer SetMike Wolfe

Written Rubberducking: A Practical Example

A practical example of the written rubberducking technique taken straight from our FogBugz issue tracking software.

No Longer SetMike Wolfe

How to Set a Breakpoint Inside of an Access Query

Did you ever want to set a breakpoint inside of an executing query? How about inside a form event property? This trick lets you do it.

No Longer SetMike Wolfe

Watch Expression

A deeper than necessary dive into the exact expression evaluation behavior of the basic “Watch Expression” in VBA.

No Longer SetMike Wolfe

3 Ways to Run the Best Low-Level Windows Debugging Tool

A surprising number of thorny Access performance issues can be resolved with this venerable tool. Here’s how to get started with Process Monitor.

No Longer SetMike Wolfe

JetShowPlan: A Primer

You may be familiar with JetShowPlan, but I guarantee you’ve never read an article about it quite like this one.

No Longer SetMike Wolfe

SQL Server Troubleshooting

Troubleshooting SQL Server Connection Errors

“SQL Server does not exist or access denied.” One error. Dozens of possible causes. Read on for a bunch of practical troubleshooting tips.

No Longer SetMike Wolfe

B-BEAR: Quick and Dirty SQL Server Testing

Begin, Before, Execute, After, Rollback. This technique makes testing your SQL Server statements a snap.

No Longer SetMike Wolfe

Advanced Server-Side SQL Server Query Troubleshooting

The XEvent Profiler in SSMS is a powerful troubleshooting tool, but what happens when the standard sessions are not enough? We need to customize...

No Longer SetMike Wolfe

Using PowerShell to Provide TCP Port Details of Running SQL Server Instances

A PowerShell script that returns useful debugging information about the TCP port details of running instances of SQL Server.

No Longer SetMike Wolfe

Quick Way to Troubleshoot SQL Server ADO Connections

This simple trick provides you with plenty of clues when debugging a failed SQL Server connection on a user’s computer.

No Longer SetMike Wolfe

Creating a Low-Privileged Local User for SQL Server Testing

It can be difficult to test how an Access application with a SQL Server backend behaves for a low-privileged user. Creating such a user account is step one.

No Longer SetMike Wolfe

Making Best Use of the VBA IDE

Dark Mode in VBA

VBA may not have a preset “Dark Mode” like other modern development environments, but it’s not hard to create one yourself.

No Longer SetMike Wolfe

Shortcut Key to Comment/Uncomment Blocks of Code in VBA

You don’t need 3rd-party tools to add keyboard shortcuts for commenting and uncommenting code blocks in VBA with this trick.

No Longer SetMike Wolfe

Customizing the VBA Debug Toolbar

There are some very handy commands that VBA does not expose by default. Here’s a step-by-step guide to customizing the Debug toolbar in VBA.

No Longer SetMike Wolfe

Debugging Private Procedures

After more than 14 years as a VBA developer, I recently discovered that you can debug private procedures without temporarily making them public!

No Longer SetMike Wolfe

Find the Yellow Highlighted Line When Debugging in VBA

Did you ever lose your place while debugging in VBA? Here’s an easy way to find it.

No Longer SetMike Wolfe

How to Show Hidden Items in the VBA Object Browser

One possible fix for the “Cannot jump to ‘|’ because it is hidden” error is to show hidden members in the VBA object browser.

No Longer SetMike Wolfe

Inspecting the End of a Long Variable Value in VBA

You know how VBA cuts off the right side of a really long variable when inspecting its value via mouse hover? Did you know you can show the right side instead?

No Longer SetMike Wolfe

VBA Immediate Window Line and Character Limits

Don’t take my word for it (or anyone else’s on the internet, for that matter). Prove the limits to yourself with some simple VBA.

No Longer SetMike Wolfe

Select Entire Sub or Function in VBA with a Double-Click

Yet another hidden feature of the VBA editor that eluded me for more than fifteen years.

No Longer SetMike Wolfe

Select Entire Module in VBA With Control + Click

Learn 4 different ways to select the entire contents of a VBA module, plus a bonus keyboard shortcut tip for switching between two active code modules.

No Longer SetMike Wolfe

Additional Reading

Debugging - No Longer Set

Tips, tricks, and techniques for solving those programming “murder mysteries” where you are both the murderer and the detective.

No Longer SetMike Wolfe