Enabling Edit and Continue on a 64-bit Application and VB2008 Express
When it comes to developing applications, one of the most frustrating things that can happen is having to stop the debugging process in order to make changes to the code. This not only slows down the development process but also hinders the ability to quickly fix bugs and errors. That's where the Edit and Continue feature comes in. This feature allows developers to make changes to the code while the application is still running, without having to stop the debugging process.
However, for developers working with a 64-bit application and VB2008 Express, this feature is not available by default. This can be a major hindrance for those trying to debug their application and make changes on the fly. But don't worry, there is a way to enable Edit and Continue on a 64-bit application and VB2008 Express.
The first step is to open the project properties by right-clicking on the project in the Solution Explorer and selecting "Properties." Then, navigate to the "Debug" tab. Here, you will see an option for "Enable Edit and Continue." However, for 64-bit applications, this option may be grayed out and not selectable.
To enable this option, you will need to make a change in the project settings. In the Solution Explorer, right-click on the project and select "Unload Project." This will temporarily unload the project from the solution.
Next, right-click on the unloaded project and select "Edit YourProjectName.vbproj." This will open the project file in a text editor. Look for the line that reads "DebugSymbols=True" and change it to "DebugSymbols=False." Save the changes and close the file.
Now, right-click on the unloaded project again and select "Reload Project." This will reload the project with the updated settings. Next, navigate back to the project properties and to the "Debug" tab. You should now be able to select the "Enable Edit and Continue" option.
But we're not done yet. There is one more step to enable Edit and Continue on a 64-bit application and VB2008 Express. Open the project properties once again and navigate to the "Compile" tab. Here, you will need to change the "Target CPU" option from "Any CPU" to "x86."
Now, when you start debugging your application, you will be able to use the Edit and Continue feature to make changes to the code while the application is still running. This will save you time and frustration when trying to fix bugs and errors.
It's important to note that enabling Edit and Continue on a 64-bit application and VB2008 Express may cause some performance issues. This is because the code must be compiled and optimized differently in order to support the Edit and Continue feature. However, for most developers, the benefits of being able to make changes on the fly far outweigh any potential performance issues.
In conclusion, if you're working with a 64-bit application and VB2008 Express, don't let the lack of an Edit and Continue option slow you down. By following these simple steps, you can easily enable Edit and Continue and make debugging and development a much smoother process. So go ahead and give it a try, and see how much time and frustration you can save by being able to make changes to your code while the application is still running.
