2.2 Using Simulator Trace

Tracing allows you to record the step-by-step execution of your code and examine this recording.

The default is set for 64K records and is recorded internally in RAM to create fast access to the trace buffer. For records larger than 64K, a RAM file buffer (essentially disk space) is used and the speed is much slower. Except when there is no alternative for capturing a large buffer of data, it is recommended that records are kept to less than 64K to minimize the delay.

Simulator Trace Setup

Before you can trace, you must set up the simulator to use this feature.

To set up trace:

1. Select File>Project Properties, “Simulator” category, “Trace” option category.
2. Change “Data Collection Selection” from “Off” to “Instruction Trace”. This is the type of trace used by the simulator.
3. Specify other options under trace. Click OK when complete.

For details on trace and other simulator options, see Trace Options. Also, clicking on the option text may show additional information in the “Option Description” box.

Simulator Trace Use

Open the Trace window from Window>Debugging>Trace.

Once trace is set up and the Trace window is open, you need to enter a debug session to view trace data in the Trace window. Once you pause, you can examine, scroll or save on the displayed data.

To view data in the window:

1. Debug Run and then Pause (button, breakpoint, etc.) your program.
2. View and/or scroll the data.
3. Debug Run and Pause again to see the data change.

To move to a specific line: Select a line in the trace window and then right click to select Go To>Line, where Line is either the trigger line (at 0), top trace line, bottom trace line or a line of your choosing (Trace Line).

To view registers by name instead of address: Select a line in the trace window and then right click to select “Symbolic Mode”.

To view the Cycles column: Select a line in the trace window and then right click to select Display Time>Format, where Format is either cycle time in hexadecimal, decimal, seconds or engineering format.

To resize the columns: Mouse over column headings until a double arrow appears. Click and drag to increase or decrease the column width.

To find items in the trace display: Select a line in the trace window and then right click to select “Find”.

To view the corresponding line in the source:

• Double click on a line in the trace window to move the program counter to the corresponding line in source code.
• Select a line in the trace window and then right click to select “Go To Source Line” to move to the corresponding line in source code.

To save or print the trace display:

• Select a line in the trace window and then right click to select “Output To File”. Enter a range of lines to output to a file.
• Select a line in the trace window and then right click to select “Print”.

Trace Window and Related Dialogs

Tracing allows you to record the step-by-step execution of your code and examine this recording. For information on using this window, see Trace Options.

To open a Trace tab, select Window>Debugging>Trace. The Trace tab opens, see following figure.

Right clicking on a trace column in the window will pop up the context menu (first table). Dialogs associated with trace are defined in the second table.