Purpose

This section provides links to additional information related to this tool mentor.


The steps in this tool mentor match those in the activity. Links to topics in the Rational XDE™ online Help are marked with .

Overview

This tool mentor currently only covers how the Visual Trace capability, integrated with Rational XDE, can help a developer analyze run-time behaviour. Note that Visual Trace is not available in all Rational XDE configurations.

Visual Trace dynamically records the execution of an application to a trace sequence diagram. A trace sequence diagram displays the flow of control of an application in a sequence diagram format. A trace sequence diagram also provides information on timing, threading, code coverage, and memory usage of the traced application.

The following steps are performed in this tool mentor:

Determine required execution scenario To top of page

There is no Rational XDE specific guidance for this step.

Prepare implementation component for runtime observation To top of page

The application you wish to trace must be built and executable

  • Launch the Visual Trace Settings Wizard.  See .
  • Select the classes in your application that you wish to include in the trace
  • Select whether you want to record from the beginning of the application or manually control recording during the execution.

Prepare environment for execution To top of page

There is no Rational XDE specific guidance for this step.

Execute the component and capture behavioral observations To top of page

Launch the application in either run or debug mode. 

  • If you have selected to start recording from the beginning of the application, a trace sequence diagram will be created and your application will be traced.

  • If you selected manual control of recording, run the application to an appropriate point (i.e. a pause waiting for user input, a breakpoint you set previously), start Visual Trace recording,  and a trace sequence diagram will be recorded from that point.

Review behavioral observations and isolate initial findings To top of page

The trace sequence diagram captures important run-time behavior that will help you understand and debug your application.

  • The trace sequence diagram accurately captures the flow of control and helps you understand the application and identify potential problems.

  • To further assist in debugging the application, the thread status bar indicates the active threads during the run, timing information is displayed on the diagram, function level code coverage is displayed, and optionally memory usage is displayed.

  • Trace sequence diagrams can be filtered and collapsed to include only relevant information. See .

Analyze findings to understand root causes To top of page

There is no Rational XDE specific guidance for this step.

Identify and communicate follow-up actions To top of page

There is no Rational XDE specific guidance for this step.

Evaluate your results To top of page

Trace sequence diagrams can be converted into XDE Sequence Diagrams and stored within XDE models. See . Diagrams in XDE models can be published  to html format. Also note that diagrams can be copied from the Rational XDE software tool to Microsoft Word and other programs.

© Copyright IBM Corp. 1987, 2004. All Rights Reserved.

Rational Unified Process   2003.06.13