Moving the instruction pointer while debugging Java in Eclipse

Question

Can I move the instruction pointer directly to a line of my choice (within the current method) while debugging a Java program in Eclipse (Galileo)?

Answer 1

This is not possible.

If you simply want to execute some code at the current place you can use the Expressions view and enter your code as an expression. The methods called by the expression evaluation will run in the current debugging context.

Answer 2

A trick I use is to type a space in your class, somewhere safe such as in the comment line; immediately delete it and save the class. This forces the execution point to jump to the beginning of your current method. Not ideal, I admit, but it can sometimes be used as a workaround to achieve what you want.

Although in the default installation of eclipse it is not possible to do directly move the execution point like in Visual Studio, there may exist an eclipse plugin which provides that functionality somewhere. Have a search around.

Answer 3

Put the cursor on the line of your choice and either hit ctrl-R ("Run to line") or right-click and select "Run to line" from the context menu.

Answer 4

This is possible...

http://help.eclipse.org/galileo/index.jsp?topic=/org.eclipse.jdt.doc.user/tips/jdt_tips.html

Drop to frame - When stepping through your code, you might occasionally step too far, or step over a line you meant to step into. Rather than restarting your debug session, you can use the Drop to Frame action to quickly go back to the beginning of a method. Select the stack frame corresponding to the Java method you wish to restart, and select Drop to Frame from Debug view toolbar or the stack frame's context menu. The current instruction pointer will be reset to the first executable statement in the method. This works for non-top stack frames as well.

Note that Drop to frame is only available when debugging with a 1.4 or higher VM, or the J9 VM. There are some situations where a JVM may be unable to pop the desired frames from the stack. For example, it is generally impossible to drop to the bottom frame of the stack or to any frame below a native method.

Answer 5

You can jump directly to any other method call inside of the currently debugged method. Select some method call below your current instruction pointer and use "Step into selection" from the context menu.

Answer 6

Moving the pointer like in Visual Studio is not possible, however workarounds are:

Going backwards to the beginning of the currently executed method: Select the method from the debug call stack, right click -> "Drop to frame" et voila you're back at the beginning of the method.

Now to reach your desired line select the line by clicking in it and hit ctrl+r or right click the line and select "Run to line".

These techniques are hugely helpful and reduce debugging efforts massively, enjoy!