I'm using Linq to SQL. I have a DataContext against which I am .SubmitChanges()'ing. There is an error inserting the identity field, and I'd like to see the query it's using to insert this identity field.
I don't see the query itself within the quickwatch; where can I find it from within the debugger?
There is actually a very simple answer to your question
Just paste this in your watch window
((System.Data.Objects.ObjectQuery)myLinqQueryVar).ToTraceString()
Lots of people have been writing their own "DebugWriter" and attaching it like so:
// Add this class somewhere in your project...
class DebugTextWriter : System.IO.TextWriter {
public override void Write(char[] buffer, int index, int count) {
System.Diagnostics.Debug.Write(new String(buffer, index, count));
}
public override void Write(string value) {
System.Diagnostics.Debug.Write(value);
}
public override Encoding Encoding {
get { return System.Text.Encoding.Default; }
}
}
// Then attach it to the Log property of your DataContext...
myDataContext.Log = new DebugTextWriter()
This will output everything that Linq-to-Sql is doing into Visual Studio's debug window.
Further to Portman's answer, if you're a console application it's as simple as:
myDataContext.Log = Console.Out;
Or you could use something like Linq2SQL Profiler which is a rather excellent tool and in fact the right tool for the job:
Linq to SQL Profiler - Real-time visual debugger for Linq to SQL
Run SQL Profiler if you have it. It'll show all traffic to your database, including SQL command text.
FooDataContext dc = new FooDataContext();
StringBuilder sb = new StringBuilder();
dc.Log = new StringWriter(sb);
var result=from r in dc.Tables select d;
.....
string query=sb.ToString();
I agree that Linq to SQL Profiler is the right tool for this job. But if you don't want to spend the money or just need to do something simple, I like the DebugTextWriter approach.
After reading this question I went off looking for something more robust. It turns out Damien Guard also wrote a very nice article about building different writers to deal with different things like outputting to Memory, Debug, a File, Multiple Destinations, or even using simple Delegates.
I wound up using a couple of his ideas and writing an ActionTextWriter that can handle more than one delegate, and I thought I would share it here:
using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;
using System.IO;
using System.Text;
namespace Writers
{
public class ActionTextWriter : TextWriter
{
protected readonly List<Action<string>> Actions = new List<Action<string>>();
public ActionTextWriter(Action<string> action)
{
Actions.Add(action);
}
public ActionTextWriter(IEnumerable<Action<string>> actions)
{
Actions.AddRange(actions);
}
public ActionTextWriter(params Action<string>[] actions)
{
Actions.AddRange(actions);
}
public override Encoding Encoding
{
get { return Encoding.Default; }
}
public override void Write(char[] buffer, int index, int count)
{
Write(new string(buffer, index, count));
}
public override void Write(char value)
{
Write(value.ToString());
}
public override void Write(string value)
{
if (value == null)
{
return;
}
foreach (var action in Actions)
{
action.Invoke(value);
}
}
}
}
You can add as many actions as you like. This example writes to a log file and the Console in Visual Studio via Debug.Write:
// Create data context
var fooDc = new FooDataContext();
// Create writer for log file.
var sw = new StreamWriter(@"C:\DataContext.log") {AutoFlush = true};
// Create write actions.
Action<string> writeToDebug = s => Debug.Write(s);
Action<string> writeToLog = s => sw.Write(s);
// Wire up log writers.
fooDc.Log = new ActionTextWriter(writeToDebug, writeToLog);
And of course if you want to make simpler ones to use off the cuff, you can always extend ActionTextWriter... write the generic approach and reuse, right?
using System.Diagnostics;
using System.IO;
namespace Writers
{
public class TraceTextWriter : ActionTextWriter
{
public TraceTextWriter()
{
Actions.Add(s => Trace.Write(s));
}
}
public class FileTextWriter : ActionTextWriter
{
public FileTextWriter(string path, bool append = false)
{
var sw = new StreamWriter(path, append) {AutoFlush = true};
Actions.Add(sw.Write);
}
}
}
Here is detailed description: http://debugmode.net/2011/06/26/logging-in-linq-to-sql/