Variables not showing while debugging in Eclipse

Question

I am running Eclipse Galileo for developers.

When I run in debug mode, the current variables and their values are not coming up in the Variables window. The window remains empty when I step through my code after a breakpoint.

Last night it was working, so I'm perplexed. Any reason why this might be happening and any tip on troubleshooting?

Solution 1

I ended up trying something easy by resetting the Debug perspective, which seemed to work:

Window => Perspective => Reset Perspective...

Thanks for the comments.

Solution 2

Window --> Show View --> Variables

Solution 3

My problem was that I couldn't see variables names, but just the value. After trying quite a while I got the solution: Click on the down arrow (in degub Variables tab) --> Layout --> show columns

It did the trick!

Solution 4

Resetting the perspective wasn't quite enough for me, I had to first delete the "Variables" tab and then reset the perspective (which reinstated the Variables tab in a working state). One other thing not mentioned above which might help others - when the variables tab is not working, the tab title is in italics (whatever that signifies). When it's working it goes back to normal font.

Solution 5

I restarted Eclipse and it worked again.

View more solutions

Comments

[Gaurav]

Just close that Variable window. And open it again.

[stephenbayer]

I keep running into this same issue, and resetting the perspective has been working for me. thanks for posting this.

[haridsv]

Actually, either this or the additional step from @tonyeva did it, but it didn't work immediately (ie., in the current stack), so thought the problem didn't go away. However, when the debugger stopped at a different place, the variables started showing up.

[Lal]

This does not provide an answer to the question. To critique or request clarification from an author, leave a comment below their post - you can always comment on your own posts, and once you have sufficient reputation you will be able to comment on any post.

[capacitor24]

The original question was: Any reason why this might be happening? The other answers, including the accepted answer, do not provide an answer to the question either, but do explain how to fix the issue. My answer does the same: here is what works on my system. But I'm sure you're just trying to help me along. Thanks!

[capacitor24]

Thanks for the ban, Lai. You're one classy act.

[ermanno.tedeschi]

Window --> Show View --> Debug --> Variables

[Stephen Kidson]

Sometimes you need to click the thread again to get the Variables pane to update. In the Debug pane, find the thread with (Suspended) beside it, expand it, and click the top stack frame.

[Mark Madej]

Me too. Closing and reopening the "Variables" window did not work, but exiting Eclipse and restarting did.

[tworec]

thakns, it helped me too with eclipse Mars. Down arrow is at upper right corner of Variables Tab bar.

[Dave]

This also helped me in Eclipse Mars, even though restarting and removing the view didn't helped at all.

[Vasily Liaskovsky]

That has nothing to deal with Eclipse and java. Are you sure you are answering the question you wished to answer?

[redeemed]

Worked on Neon , great answer !

[Max]

I had to close the project, restart eclipse, re-open the project, and then the Variables window began to work again. Super strange.