Seeing the console's output in Visual Studio 2

Question

I am writing a simple C# program with some outputs (Console.WriteLine("...");). The problem is, each time I run it, I cannot see the program's output in the output window.

The "program output" tag is already checked, and I already redirected all outputs to the intermediate window but to no avail.

How do I enable seeing the program's output?

I don't think the problem lies with my code. I tried running a simple program that just outputs a string and readline "ala hello world" and I am still unable to see any output. The problem is either with me looking for the output in the wrong location or Visual Studio acting out.

The debug.write method also doesn't work.

Using debug.Write, it all works, though it didn't before. Either something bugged out with me before I restarted or I just need to take a break, either way it's all good now. Thanks all for the helpful comments =)

Answer 1

System.Diagnostics.Debug.WriteLine() will work, but you have to be looking in the right place for the output. In Visual Studio 2010, on the menu bar, click Debug -> Windows -> Output. Now, at the bottom of the screen docked next to your error list, there should be an output tab. Click it and double check it's showing output from the debug stream on the dropdown list.

P.S.: I think the output window shows on a fresh install, but I can't remember. If it doesn't, or if you closed it by accident, follow these instructions.

Answer 2

You can use the System.Diagnostics.Debug.Write or System.Runtime.InteropServices method to write messages to the Output Window.

Answer 3

Add a Console.Read(); at the end of your program. It'll keep the application from closing, and you can see its output that way.

This is a console application I just dug up that stops after processing but before exiting:

class Program
{
    static void Main(string[] args)
    {
        DummyObjectList dol = new DummyObjectList(2);
        dol.Add(new DummyObject("test1", (Decimal)25.36));
        dol.Add(new DummyObject("test2", (Decimal)0.698));
        XmlSerializer dolxs = new XmlSerializer(typeof(DummyObjectList));
        dolxs.Serialize(Console.Out, dol);

        Console.WriteLine(string.Empty);
        Console.WriteLine(string.Empty);

        List<DummyObject> dolist = new List<DummyObject>(2);
        dolist.Add(new DummyObject("test1", (Decimal)25.36));
        dolist.Add(new DummyObject("test2", (Decimal)0.698));
        XmlSerializer dolistxs = new XmlSerializer(typeof(List<DummyObject>));
        dolistxs.Serialize(Console.Out, dolist);
        Console.Read(); //  <--- Right here
    }
}

Alternatively, you can simply add a breakpoint on the last line.

Answer 4

I run into this frequently for some reason, and I can't fathom why this solution hasn't been mentioned:

Click View → Output (or just hold Ctrl and hit W > O)

Console output then appears where your Error List, Locals, and Watch windows are.

Note: I'm using Visual Studio 2015.

Answer 5

Here are a couple of things to check:

1. For console.Write/WriteLine, your app must be a console application. (right-click the project in Solution Explorer, choose Properties, and look at the "Output Type" combo in the Application Tab -- should be "Console Application" (note, if you really need a windows application or a class library, don't change this to Console App just to get the Console.WriteLine).

2. You could use System.Diagnostics.Debug.WriteLine to write to the output window (to show the output window in VS, got to View | Output) Note that these writes will only occur in a build where the DEBUG conditional is defined (by default, debug builds define this, and release builds do not)

3. You could use System.Diagnostics.Trace.Writeline if you want to be able to write to configurable "listeners" in non-debug builds. (by default, this writes to the Output Window in Visual Studio, just like Debug.Writeline)

Answer 6

Press Ctrl + F5 to run the program instead of F5.