The dbXtra interface

When invoked, dbXtra's interface has a title bar, a pull-down menu bar on the top, sidebar command buttons on the left-hand side, the source window, and the command window below it, as in Figure 6-1, ``dbXtra interface''.

Figure 6-1 dbXtra interface

The components of the dbXtra interface are:

title bar

The title bar displays the current debugging mode. [C] or [C++], and the current file and function names.

pull-down menu bar

The menu bar across the top contains several pull-down menus. These are accessed through the mouse, or through the keyboard accelerator sequence for the menu (simultaneously press the <Alt> key and the uppercase letter in the menu name). Each menu contains a logical group of buttons performing related operations. For further discussion of each menu and the command line operations performed, see ``dbXtra and dbxtra commands''.

 File                       Events      eXecute       Source        Info        Options       Help
 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Write Configuration File   Events      Run           Browse file   Show        C/C++
 Exit dbXtra                Call        Rerun         Source Path   Where       Preferences
                            When        Continue      Search        Display     Environment
                            Stop        Skip          Function      Assign      Fork
                            Trace       Next          dbXref        Which       Trace
                            Interrupt   Step          Up            Print
                            Catch       Goto          Down          Xref
                            Ignore      Jump                        Variables
                            Dbxtra      Return                      Registers
                                        Instruction                 Memory

sidebar buttons

The sidebar buttons on the left-hand side provide a quick entry point for frequently-used command buttons in the Events and eXecute pull-down menus.

source window

The source window shows the current position in the current file. This is a read-only view of the file; the program cannot be modified or edited.

The current line numbers and breakpoint status are displayed to the left of the source window. The current execution point is indicated by an arrow [->].
Breakpoints (or other events) are indicated by an [S] at the appropriate lines.

Associated with the source window is a pop-up menu that appears when mouse button 3 is pressed. The menu items provide a second entry point for frequently-used command buttons in the Source and Info pull-down menus.

command window

The command window provides direct access to the complexities of the underlying debugger. Output from most debugger commands appear in this window and any dbxtra command can be entered from this window.