PDX(1)                                                                  PDX(1)


NAME
       pdx - pascal debugger

SYNOPSIS
       pdx [-r] [objfile]

DESCRIPTION
       Pdx  is  a tool for source level debugging and execution of Pascal pro‐
       grams.  The objfile is an object file produced by the Pascal translator
       pi(1).   If no objfile is specified, pdx looks for a file named ‘‘obj’’
       in the current directory.  The object  file  contains  a  symbol  table
       which includes the name of the all the source files translated by pi to
       create it.  These files are  available  for  perusal  while  using  the
       debugger.

       If  the  file  ‘‘.pdxinit’’  exists  in the current directory, then the
       debugger commands in it are executed.

       The -r option causes the objfile to be executed immediately; if it ter‐
       minates  successfully  pdx  exits.  Otherwise it reports the reason for
       termination and offers the user the option of entering the debugger  or
       simply  letting  px continue with a traceback.  If -r is not specified,
       pdx just prompts and waits for a command.

       The commands are:

       run [args] [< filename] [> filename]
              Start executing objfile, passing args as command line arguments;
              < or > can be used to redirect input or output in the usual man‐
              ner.

       trace [in procedure/function] [if condition]
       trace source-line-number [if condition]
       trace procedure/function [in procedure/function] [if condition]
       trace expression at source-line-number [if condition]
       trace variable [in procedure/function] [if condition]
              Have tracing information printed when the program  is  executed.
              A number is associated with the command that is used to turn the
              tracing off (see the delete command).

              The first argument describes what is to be traced.  If it  is  a
              source-line-number,  then  the line is printed immediately prior
              to being executed.  Source line numbers in a file other than the
              current  one  must  be  preceded  by  the name of the file and a
              colon, e.g.  ‘‘mumble.p:17’’.

              If the argument is a procedure or function name then every  time
              it is called, information is printed telling what routine called
              it, from what source line it was  called,  and  what  parameters
              were  passed  to  it.   In addition, its return is noted, and if
              it’s a function then the value it is returning is also  printed.

              If  the  argument  is  an  expression with an at clause then the
              value of the  expression  is  printed  whenever  the  identified
              source line is reached.

              If  the  argument  is  a variable then the name and value of the
              variable is printed whenever it changes.  Execution is  substan‐
              tially slower during this form of tracing.

              If  no  argument  is specified then all source lines are printed
              before they are executed.   Execution  is  substantially  slower
              during this form of tracing.

              The  clause ‘‘in procedure/function’’ restricts tracing informa‐
              tion to be printed only while executing inside the given  proce‐
              dure or function.

              Condition  is a Pascal boolean expression and is evaluated prior
              to printing the tracing information; if it  is  false  then  the
              information is not printed.

              There is no restriction on the amount of information that can be
              traced.

       stop if condition
       stop at source-line-number [if condition]
       stop in procedure/function [if condition]
       stop variable [if condition]
              Stop execution when the given  line  is  reached,  procedure  or
              function called, variable changed, or condition true.

       delete command-number
              The  trace or stop corresponding to the given number is removed.
              The numbers associated with traces and stops are printed by  the
              status command.

       status [> filename]
              Print out the currently active trace and stop commands.

       cont   Continue execution from where it stopped.  This can only be done
              when the program was stopped by an interrupt or through  use  of
              the stop command.

       step   Execute one source line.

       next   Execute up to the next source line.  The difference between this
              and step is that if the line contains a call to a  procedure  or
              function  the  step  command  will stop at the beginning of that
              block, while the next command will not.

       print expression [, expression ...]
              Print out the  values  of  the  Pascal  expressions.   Variables
              declared in an outer block but having the same identifier as one
              in the current block may be referenced  as  ‘‘block-name . vari
              able’’.

       whatis identifier
              Print the declaration of the given identifier.

       which identifier
              Print  the  full qualification of the given identifer, i.e.  the
              outer blocks that the identifier is associated with.

       assign variable expression
              Assign the value of the expression to the variable.

       call procedure(parameters)
              Execute the object code associated with the named  procedure  or
              function.

       help   Print out a synopsis of pdx commands.

       gripe  Invokes a mail program to send a message to the person in charge
              of pdx.

       where  Print out a list of the active procedures and functions and  the
              respective source line where they are called.

       source filename
              Read  pdx  commands  from the given filename.  Especially useful
              when the filename has been created by redirecting a status  com‐
              mand from an earlier debugging session.

       dump [> filename]
              Print the names and values of all active data.

       list [source-line-number [, source-line-number]]
       list procedure/function
              List  the  lines  in the current source file from the first line
              number to the second inclusive.  As in the editor ‘‘$’’  can  be
              used  to refer to the last line.  If no lines are specified, the
              entire file is listed.  If the name of a procedure  or  function
              is given lines n-k to n+k are listed where n is the first state‐
              ment in the procedure or function and k is small.

       file [filename]
              Change the current source file name to  filename.   If  none  is
              specified then the current source file name is printed.

       edit [filename]
       edit procedure/function-name
              Invoke  an editor on filename or the current source file if none
              is specified.  If a procedure or function name is specified, the
              editor is invoked on the file that contains it.  Which editor is
              invoked by default depends on the installation.  The default can
              be  overridden by setting the environment variable EDITOR to the
              name of the desired editor.

       pi     Recompile the program and read in the new symbol table  informa‐
              tion.

       sh command-line
              Pass  the  command  line  to the shell for execution.  The SHELL
              environment variable determines which shell is used.

       alias new-command-name old-command-name
              This command makes pdx respond to new-command-name  the  way  it
              used to respond to old-command-name.

       quit   Exit pdx.


       The  following  commands  deal  with  the program at the px instruction
       level rather than source level.  They are not intended for general use.

       tracei [address] [if cond]
       tracei [variable] [at address] [if cond]
       stopi [address] [if cond]
       stopi [at] [address] [if cond]
              Turn  on  tracing  or  set a stop using a px machine instruction
              addresses.

       xi address [, address]
              Print the instructions starting at the first address.   Instruc‐
              tions up to the second address are printed.

       xd address [, address]
              Print in octal the specified data location(s).

FILES
       obj                      Pascal object file
       .pdxinit                 Pdx initialization file


SEE ALSO
       pi(1), px(1)
       An Introduction to Pdx

BUGS
       Pdx  does not understand sets, and provides no information about files.

       The whatis command doesn’t quite work for variant records.

       Bad things will happen if a procedure invoked  with  the  call  command
       does a non-local goto.

       The  commands  step and next should be able to take a count that speci‐
       fies how many lines to execute.

       There should be commands stepi and nexti that correspond  to  step  and
       next but work at the instruction level.

       There  should be a way to get an address associated with a line number,
       procedure or function, and variable.

       Most of the command names are too long.

       The alias facility is quite weak.

       A csh-like history capability would improve the situation.


4.2 Berkeley Distribution       April 29, 1985                          PDX(1)
 
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