Using the Web Application Debugger

The Web Application Debugger provides an easy way to monitor HTTP requests, responses, and response times. The Web Application Debugger takes the place of the Web server. Once you have debugged your application, you can convert it to one of the supported types of Web application and install it with a commercial Web server.

To use the Web Application Debugger, you must first create your Web application as a Web Application Debugger executable. Whether you are using Web Broker or WebSnap, the wizard that creates your Web server application includes this as an option when you first begin the application. This creates a Web server application that is also a COM server.

For information on how to write this Web server application using Web Broker, see Using Web Broker. For more information on using WebSnap, see Creating Web Server applications using WebSnap.

Launching your application with the Web Application Debugger

Once you have developed your Web server application, you can run and debug it.

To launch your application with the Web Application Debugger

With your project loaded in the IDE, set any breakpoints so that you can debug your application just like any other executable.
Choose RunRun. This displays the console window of the COM server that is your Web server application. The first time you run your application, it registers your COM server so that the Web App debugger can access it.
Select ToolsWeb App Debugger.
Click the Start button. This displays the ServerInfo page in your default Browser.
The ServerInfo page provides a drop-down list of all registered Web Application Debugger executables. Select your application from the drop-down list. If you do not find your application in this drop-down list, try running your application as an executable. Your application must be run once so that it can register itself. If you still do not find your application in the drop-down list, try refreshing the Web page. (Sometimes the Web browser caches this page, preventing you from seeing the most recent changes.)
Once you have selected your application in the drop-down list, press the Go button. This launches your application in the Web Application Debugger, which provides you with details on request and response messages that pass between your application and the Web Application Debugger.

Converting your application to another type of Web server application

When you have finished debugging your Web server application with the Web Application Debugger, you will need to convert it to another type that can be installed on a commercial Web server. To learn more about converting your application, see "Converting Web server application target types" in the topic Types of Web server applications.