## page was renamed from HelpCenter/Tips/DebuggingXSL
## page was renamed from HelpCenter/Howtos/DebuggingXSL
## page was renamed from HelpCenter/Tips/DebuggingXSL
== Debugging XSL ==

One of the great advantages of being on the .NET platform is that the ePublisher platform now includes a debugger!  Well, not really, but Microsoft does make one available for free in the form of Visual Studio 2017 Community Edition. Two downloads, one install, and just a wee bit of chicanery, you too can debug XSL like a Pro.

1. Download Visual Studio 2017 (Community Edition will work just fine).

2. Install Visual Studio with the .Net environment.

3. To enable XSL debugging in ePublisher, follow these steps:

   1. Shutdown ePublisher.

   2. Edit "!WebWorks.ePublisherPro.exe.config" in your install directory with Notepad.

   3. Add the following entry if not present and set it to "true".

   {{{
  <add key="DebugXSLTransforms"
       value="true" /> 
}}}

   4. Save your changes.

4. Download the C# solution ([[attachment:ePublisher XSL.VS2017.zip]]).

5. Unzip the C# solution to a convenient location.

6. Open up the resulting folder and double-click on "ePublisher XSL.sln".

7. Configure the following Debug Options:
   * Debugging -> General -> (check) Use managed compatibility mode
   * Debugging -> General -> (uncheck) Enable Just My Code

8. Drag your favorite ePublisher XSL files into the Visual Studio window.  

9. Within the C# interface, set breakpoints as necessary by choose '''Debug > Toggle Breakpoint (F9)'''.

10. Hit F5 to start ePublisher and begin debugging.
    The Debugger launches ePublisher.

11.Choose the project you want to debug.

12.Generate the project.



----

In the ePublisher C# folder, there lives in a file called '''ePublisher XSL.csproj.user'''.  We've added an entry like so:

{{{
    <StartAction>Program</StartAction>
    <StartProgram>C:\Program Files (x86)\WebWorks\ePublisher\2018.1\ePublisher Designer\WebWorks.ePublisherDesigner.exe</StartProgram>
}}}

This appears within both the Debug and Release property groups:

{{{
<Project xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/developer/msbuild/2003">
  <PropertyGroup Condition=" '$(Configuration)|$(Platform)' == 'Debug|AnyCPU' ">
    <StartAction>Program</StartAction>
    <StartProgram>C:\Program Files (x86)\WebWorks\ePublisher\2018.1\ePublisher Designer\WebWorks.ePublisherDesigner.exe</StartProgram>
  </PropertyGroup>
  <PropertyGroup Condition=" '$(Configuration)|$(Platform)' == 'Release|AnyCPU' ">
    <StartAction>Program</StartAction>
    <StartProgram>C:\Program Files (x86)\WebWorks\ePublisher\2018.1\ePublisher Designer\WebWorks.ePublisherDesigner.exe</StartProgram>
  </PropertyGroup>
</Project>
}}}

Adjust the install path as necessary for your site.