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c#debuggingvisual-studio-2013comvisual-foxpro

"No native symbols in symbol file" when debugging C# DLL executed from VFP9 in VS2013


I had to port a exe program to dll for usage with VFP, this is my first time learning about debugging process, i have checked a lot of documentation and threads here.

West-wind was a big help too (http://www.west-wind.com/presentations/dotnetfromVfp/DotNetFromVfp_ComplexObjects.asp)

The thing is, now i am doing all output debugging process via txt files, which is really annoying, so i tried to debug the dll directly, but i step into this error

Output Windows says

x86\Debug\dzg.dll: No native symbols in symbol file.

and in the IDE:

The Breakpoint will not currently be hit. No Symbols have been loaded for this document

I have tried to nuke, build, rebuild, sign and regasm /codebase, gacutil /i dzg.dll etc. (I checked all the exe were for .net 3.5)

also checked admin permissions on both vs2013, and vfp, command prompt when doing the registrations, etc

but i just can't load the symbol file to debug it

Have anybody done this before? most reports of "No Native Symbols" are for ASP or C++ but not with VFP

I really have tried all the solutions posted on this website, MSDN and other sites, but i really got into a dead end.

Any tips appreciated.


Solution

  • No native symbols in symbol file

    That's accurate, the symbol file for a C# class library doesn't have any native symbols, only managed ones. This went wrong because you selected the wrong debugging engine in the Tools + Attach to Process dialog. Click the Select button and tick a managed debugger.

    The much easier way to do this is by configuring the debugger in your C# project. Use the Project + Properties, Debug tab. Select the "Start external program" radio button and select the VFP executable. Now you can simply press F5 to start debugging.