Debugging Options

The Debug feature in Robility allows you to identify, monitor, and resolve issues during workflow execution. It provides real-time insights into how the workflow processes each activity and the values passed to it in live execution, making it easier to understand how that automation runs. The debugger offers multiple options, each designed to give you different levels of control over workflow execution.

Debug Options

Step In

a. Starts execution at the root node of the workflow.
b. Pauses at each activity, allowing you to move step-by-step through the workflow.
c. Useful for detailed inspection when you want to understand how each node operates or trace the flow of variables.

Step Over

a. Executes the workflow continuously without pausing at every activity.
b. Stops only when it encounters a breakpoint or reaches the end of the workflow.
c. Ideal when you want to run most of the workflow at normal speed but still monitor specific points using breakpoints.

Breakpoints

a. Allow you to pause execution automatically at specific activities or nodes.
b. Multiple breakpoints can be set, modified, or cleared at any time.
c. On hitting a breakpoint, control is returned to you, allowing you to decide whether to Step In, Continue, or Abort the workflow.

Debug Timer

a. Introduces a controlled delay between activities during execution.
b. Delay is configurable (0, 1, or 2 seconds) to suit your observation needs.
c. Helps you visualize transitions between activities without manually stepping through each one.

Restart

a. Automatically restarts the workflow from the root node whenever a breakpoint is toggled on the current activity.
b. Useful when you want to re-run a portion of the workflow to observe changes or verify variable updates without manually stopping and restarting the session.
c. Ensures that the workflow state is reset, providing a clean execution environment for debugging.

Hotkeys for Debugging

1. Abort: Shift + F5
2. Continue / Step Over: F10
3. Step In:

a. Press Ctrl + F11 to start Debug with Step In from the root node.
b. Press F11 to continue Step In for navigating through further nodes.

How to Use Debug Options

1. Set Breakpoints

a. Identify the activity or node where you want execution to pause.
b. Toggle a breakpoint on that activity.

2. Start Debugging

a. Press Ctrl + F11 to start Debug with Step In from the root node.
b. Execution will halt at the root node, allowing you to inspect variable and argument values.

3. Step Through Activities

a. Use F11 to move to the next activity sequentially.
b. Observe the Debug pop-up window for real-time variable and argument values.

4. Continue Execution

a. Press F10 (Continue / Step Over) to run the workflow continuously until the next breakpoint or workflow end.
b. Use Debug Timer (Optional)
c. Enable a Debug Timer to add a short delay between activities (0, 1, or 2 seconds).
d. This allows you to visualize the workflow step-by-step without manually stepping through each node.

5. Stop Debugging

a. Press Shift + F5 (Abort) to stop the debugging session at any time.