FIX: Wrong Type Definition Appears in Visual Studio .NET Debugger (822551)

SYMPTOMS

When you use Visual Studio .NET 2003 to compile an application, and then you use the integrated debugger to debug the application, the C-style structures may be displayed by using the wrong type definition in the Locals Window.

This problem occurs only if there are multiple structures in the project that have the same name, regardless of whether they are scoped independently. When you expand a structure in this window, members of a like-named structure that is not currently in execution scope may appear.

Note This is debugger-specific behavior. The code itself compiles and runs correctly.

WORKAROUND

Microsoft strongly recommends that you use unique type definitions. By using unique type definitions, you can avoid any confusion about the true value of a data structure. However, if you cannot use unique type definitions, you can also avoid the problem by using namespaces, as in the following sample code:

namespace MyNamespace {
struct IDENTICALSTRUCT {
...;
};

using namespace MyNamespace;

The debugger can then resolve the type definitions correctly.

RESOLUTION

A supported fix is now available from Microsoft, but it is only intended to correct the problem that this article describes. Apply it only to systems that are experiencing this specific problem.

To resolve this problem, contact Microsoft Product Support Services to obtain the fix. For a complete list of Microsoft Product Support Services phone numbers and information about support costs, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=fh;[LN];CNTACTMS

Note In special cases, charges that are ordinarily incurred for support calls may be canceled if a Microsoft Support Professional determines that a specific update will resolve your problem. The usual support costs will apply to additional support questions and issues that do not qualify for the specific update in question. The English version of this fix has the file attributes (or later) that are listed in the following table. The dates and times for these files are listed in coordinated universal time (UTC). When you view the file information, it is converted to local time. To find the difference between UTC and local time, use the Time Zone tab in the Date and Time tool in Control Panel.

   Date         Time   Version      Size     File name
   ------------------------------------------------------
   17-JUN-2003  04:02  7.10.3168.0  237,568  NatDbgEE.dll
   17-JUN-2003  20:20  7.10.3168.0  241,664  Mspdb71.dll

FIX: Wrong Type Definition Appears in Visual Studio .NET Debugger (822551)

SYMPTOMS

WORKAROUND

RESOLUTION

STATUS