it is possible to Debug Global.asax?

Question

I cant debug global.asax file! i have some codes in Application_Start() method but when I set break point in method it is ingonred! is this normal?

Answer 1

Yes, it is normal. Application_Start() is processed by IIS. But all other methods, for example Session_Start and all others except Application_Start() can be debugged normally.

Answer 2

Application_Start() is invoked once per AppDomain. If you're not hitting your breakpoint, it means the AppDomain was already created, so do the following:

• In your quick-launch bar, there is an icon for the VS web server (its the one which says "Local Host Some Port"). Right click and choose "Stop" or "Close". This should kill the AppDomain.
  • If you're using IIS, you need to restart your site manually.
  • Alternatively, modifying the web config or Global.asax file is usually enough to restart the AppDomain.
• Restart your debugging, you should hit your breakpoints now.

Answer 3

Maybe you should try:

• stopping development server in taskbar
• switching the configuration from release to debug

Answer 4

Check that your web application is in debug mode (<compilation debug="true"> in web.config).

If you're using developer's IIS started by VS, just restart it or rebuild application.

If you're on normal IIS you have two options:

1. For web-site is configured to work with development folder (where you VS web project is deployed) you just have to restart application pool set for that web-site and start debugging before first request reaches server (you can always restart app pool during debug).
2. For web-site that works on another folder or even on remote server you have to attach to the process. To do this you need remote debugger installed on remote machine or your own (depends on web-server location) and use Debug - Attach to process menu, enter computer name and then select a process to debug. It is usually a w3wp.exe working in managed mode type.