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Symbols, Debugging, Options Dialog Box

To access the Symbols page, select Options on the Tools menu. In the Options dialog box, expand the Debugging node and select Symbols. This page lets you set the following general debugging options.

  • Symbol file (.pdb) locations
    A list of locations where the debugger will look for symbol files. Locations can include directories, URLs, shares, and symbol server locations. (C/C++ users, see DBG Files for more information.)

    This list should contain only known and trusted locations. Loading symbols from untrusted locations can have harmful effects, as described in the previous Security Note.

  • Microsoft Symbol Servers
    Select this option to download symbols from the Microsoft public symbol servers. Accessing the Microsoft symbol servers requires an Internet connection. For more information, see How to: Use a Symbol Server.

    The following potential security threats must be considered when you use Source Server:

    Arbitrary commands can be embedded in the application's .pdb file. Therefore, make sure that you put only the commands that you want to execute in the srcsrv.ini file. Any attempt to execute a command not in the srcsvr.ini file will cause a confirmation dialog box to appear. For more information, see Security Warning: Debugger Must Execute Untrusted Command.

    No validation is done on command parameters, so be careful with trusted commands. For example, if you trusted cmd.exe, a malicious user might specify parameters that would make the command dangerous.

  • Folder icon button
    Click this button to create a new location in the list.

  • "X" icon button
    Select a location in the list and click this button to remove the directory from the list.

  • Up-arrow icon button
    When a directory is selected in the list, click this button to move up the list.

  • Down-arrow icon button
    When a directory is selected in the list, click this button to move down the list.

  • Cache symbols in this directory
    You can use a local directory to increase debugger performance when you use symbols from a server. This directory will hold symbols for system software obtained from a symbols server. Caching symbols will increase disk usage. Caching is especially useful if you are using a symbol server over the Internet. Notice that, if you are debugging a program on a remote computer, the cache directory refers to a directory on the remote computer.


  • This button displays a dialog box that lets you browse and select the directory to use for the previous item.

  • Load all symbols
    Loads symbols from all specified locations immediately.

  • Empty Symbol Cache
    Deletes all symbol files in the location specified in Cache symbols in this directory. Also deletes the directory itself.

  • All modules, unless excluded
    Use this setting to load symbols for all modules in the symbol file locations, except for modules designated in an exclude list.

  • Specify excluded modules
    Click this link to create or modify a symbol file exclude list.

  • Only specified modules
    Use this setting to load symbols for only those modules designated in an include list.

  • Specify modules
    Click this link to create or modify a symbol file include list.

See Also

Tasks

How to: Specify Symbol Locations and Loading Behavior

How to: Use a Symbol Server

Reference

Debugging, Options Dialog Box