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<h3 class="section">10.8 Print Settings</h3>
<p><a name="index-format-options-674"></a><a name="index-print-settings-675"></a><span class="sc">gdb</span> provides the following ways to control how arrays, structures,
and symbols are printed.
<p class="noindent">These settings are useful for debugging programs in any language:
<a name="index-set-print-676"></a>
<dl><dt><code>set print address</code><dt><code>set print address on</code><dd><a name="index-print_002fdon_0027t-print-memory-addresses-677"></a><span class="sc">gdb</span> prints memory addresses showing the location of stack
traces, structure values, pointer values, breakpoints, and so forth,
even when it also displays the contents of those addresses. The default
is <code>on</code>. For example, this is what a stack frame display looks like with
<code>set print address on</code>:
<pre class="smallexample"> (gdb) f
#0 set_quotes (lq=0x34c78 "&lt;&lt;", rq=0x34c88 "&gt;&gt;")
at input.c:530
530 if (lquote != def_lquote)
</pre>
<br><dt><code>set print address off</code><dd>Do not print addresses when displaying their contents. For example,
this is the same stack frame displayed with <code>set print address off</code>:
<pre class="smallexample"> (gdb) set print addr off
(gdb) f
#0 set_quotes (lq="&lt;&lt;", rq="&gt;&gt;") at input.c:530
530 if (lquote != def_lquote)
</pre>
<p>You can use &lsquo;<samp><span class="samp">set print address off</span></samp>&rsquo; to eliminate all machine
dependent displays from the <span class="sc">gdb</span> interface. For example, with
<code>print address off</code>, you should get the same text for backtraces on
all machines&mdash;whether or not they involve pointer arguments.
<p><a name="index-show-print-678"></a><br><dt><code>show print address</code><dd>Show whether or not addresses are to be printed.
</dl>
<p>When <span class="sc">gdb</span> prints a symbolic address, it normally prints the
closest earlier symbol plus an offset. If that symbol does not uniquely
identify the address (for example, it is a name whose scope is a single
source file), you may need to clarify. One way to do this is with
<code>info line</code>, for example &lsquo;<samp><span class="samp">info line *0x4537</span></samp>&rsquo;. Alternately,
you can set <span class="sc">gdb</span> to print the source file and line number when
it prints a symbolic address:
<dl>
<dt><code>set print symbol-filename on</code><dd><a name="index-source-file-and-line-of-a-symbol-679"></a><a name="index-symbol_002c-source-file-and-line-680"></a>Tell <span class="sc">gdb</span> to print the source file name and line number of a
symbol in the symbolic form of an address.
<br><dt><code>set print symbol-filename off</code><dd>Do not print source file name and line number of a symbol. This is the
default.
<br><dt><code>show print symbol-filename</code><dd>Show whether or not <span class="sc">gdb</span> will print the source file name and
line number of a symbol in the symbolic form of an address.
</dl>
<p>Another situation where it is helpful to show symbol filenames and line
numbers is when disassembling code; <span class="sc">gdb</span> shows you the line
number and source file that corresponds to each instruction.
<p>Also, you may wish to see the symbolic form only if the address being
printed is reasonably close to the closest earlier symbol:
<dl>
<dt><code>set print max-symbolic-offset </code><var>max-offset</var><dt><code>set print max-symbolic-offset unlimited</code><dd><a name="index-maximum-value-for-offset-of-closest-symbol-681"></a>Tell <span class="sc">gdb</span> to only display the symbolic form of an address if the
offset between the closest earlier symbol and the address is less than
<var>max-offset</var>. The default is <code>unlimited</code>, which tells <span class="sc">gdb</span>
to always print the symbolic form of an address if any symbol precedes
it. Zero is equivalent to <code>unlimited</code>.
<br><dt><code>show print max-symbolic-offset</code><dd>Ask how large the maximum offset is that <span class="sc">gdb</span> prints in a
symbolic address.
</dl>
<p><a name="index-wild-pointer_002c-interpreting-682"></a><a name="index-pointer_002c-finding-referent-683"></a>If you have a pointer and you are not sure where it points, try
&lsquo;<samp><span class="samp">set print symbol-filename on</span></samp>&rsquo;. Then you can determine the name
and source file location of the variable where it points, using
&lsquo;<samp><span class="samp">p/a </span><var>pointer</var></samp>&rsquo;. This interprets the address in symbolic form.
For example, here <span class="sc">gdb</span> shows that a variable <code>ptt</code> points
at another variable <code>t</code>, defined in <samp><span class="file">hi2.c</span></samp>:
<pre class="smallexample"> (gdb) set print symbol-filename on
(gdb) p/a ptt
$4 = 0xe008 &lt;t in hi2.c&gt;
</pre>
<blockquote>
<em>Warning:</em> For pointers that point to a local variable, &lsquo;<samp><span class="samp">p/a</span></samp>&rsquo;
does not show the symbol name and filename of the referent, even with
the appropriate <code>set print</code> options turned on.
</blockquote>
<p>You can also enable &lsquo;<samp><span class="samp">/a</span></samp>&rsquo;-like formatting all the time using
&lsquo;<samp><span class="samp">set print symbol on</span></samp>&rsquo;:
<dl>
<dt><code>set print symbol on</code><dd>Tell <span class="sc">gdb</span> to print the symbol corresponding to an address, if
one exists.
<br><dt><code>set print symbol off</code><dd>Tell <span class="sc">gdb</span> not to print the symbol corresponding to an
address. In this mode, <span class="sc">gdb</span> will still print the symbol
corresponding to pointers to functions. This is the default.
<br><dt><code>show print symbol</code><dd>Show whether <span class="sc">gdb</span> will display the symbol corresponding to an
address.
</dl>
<p>Other settings control how different kinds of objects are printed:
<dl>
<dt><code>set print array</code><dt><code>set print array on</code><dd><a name="index-pretty-print-arrays-684"></a>Pretty print arrays. This format is more convenient to read,
but uses more space. The default is off.
<br><dt><code>set print array off</code><dd>Return to compressed format for arrays.
<br><dt><code>show print array</code><dd>Show whether compressed or pretty format is selected for displaying
arrays.
<p><a name="index-print-array-indexes-685"></a><br><dt><code>set print array-indexes</code><dt><code>set print array-indexes on</code><dd>Print the index of each element when displaying arrays. May be more
convenient to locate a given element in the array or quickly find the
index of a given element in that printed array. The default is off.
<br><dt><code>set print array-indexes off</code><dd>Stop printing element indexes when displaying arrays.
<br><dt><code>show print array-indexes</code><dd>Show whether the index of each element is printed when displaying
arrays.
<br><dt><code>set print elements </code><var>number-of-elements</var><dt><code>set print elements unlimited</code><dd><a name="index-number-of-array-elements-to-print-686"></a><a name="index-limit-on-number-of-printed-array-elements-687"></a>Set a limit on how many elements of an array <span class="sc">gdb</span> will print.
If <span class="sc">gdb</span> is printing a large array, it stops printing after it has
printed the number of elements set by the <code>set print elements</code> command.
This limit also applies to the display of strings.
When <span class="sc">gdb</span> starts, this limit is set to 200.
Setting <var>number-of-elements</var> to <code>unlimited</code> or zero means
that the number of elements to print is unlimited.
<br><dt><code>show print elements</code><dd>Display the number of elements of a large array that <span class="sc">gdb</span> will print.
If the number is 0, then the printing is unlimited.
<br><dt><code>set print frame-arguments </code><var>value</var><dd><a name="index-set-print-frame_002darguments-688"></a><a name="index-printing-frame-argument-values-689"></a><a name="index-print-all-frame-argument-values-690"></a><a name="index-print-frame-argument-values-for-scalars-only-691"></a><a name="index-do-not-print-frame-argument-values-692"></a>This command allows to control how the values of arguments are printed
when the debugger prints a frame (see <a href="Frames.html#Frames">Frames</a>). The possible
values are:
<dl>
<dt><code>all</code><dd>The values of all arguments are printed.
<br><dt><code>scalars</code><dd>Print the value of an argument only if it is a scalar. The value of more
complex arguments such as arrays, structures, unions, etc, is replaced
by <code>...</code>. This is the default. Here is an example where
only scalar arguments are shown:
<pre class="smallexample"> #1 0x08048361 in call_me (i=3, s=..., ss=0xbf8d508c, u=..., e=green)
at frame-args.c:23
</pre>
<br><dt><code>none</code><dd>None of the argument values are printed. Instead, the value of each argument
is replaced by <code>...</code>. In this case, the example above now becomes:
<pre class="smallexample"> #1 0x08048361 in call_me (i=..., s=..., ss=..., u=..., e=...)
at frame-args.c:23
</pre>
</dl>
<p>By default, only scalar arguments are printed. This command can be used
to configure the debugger to print the value of all arguments, regardless
of their type. However, it is often advantageous to not print the value
of more complex parameters. For instance, it reduces the amount of
information printed in each frame, making the backtrace more readable.
Also, it improves performance when displaying Ada frames, because
the computation of large arguments can sometimes be CPU-intensive,
especially in large applications. Setting <code>print frame-arguments</code>
to <code>scalars</code> (the default) or <code>none</code> avoids this computation,
thus speeding up the display of each Ada frame.
<br><dt><code>show print frame-arguments</code><dd>Show how the value of arguments should be displayed when printing a frame.
<br><dt><code>set print raw frame-arguments on</code><dd>Print frame arguments in raw, non pretty-printed, form.
<br><dt><code>set print raw frame-arguments off</code><dd>Print frame arguments in pretty-printed form, if there is a pretty-printer
for the value (see <a href="Pretty-Printing.html#Pretty-Printing">Pretty Printing</a>),
otherwise print the value in raw form.
This is the default.
<br><dt><code>show print raw frame-arguments</code><dd>Show whether to print frame arguments in raw form.
<p><a name="set-print-entry_002dvalues"></a><br><dt><code>set print entry-values </code><var>value</var><dd><a name="index-set-print-entry_002dvalues-693"></a>Set printing of frame argument values at function entry. In some cases
<span class="sc">gdb</span> can determine the value of function argument which was passed by
the function caller, even if the value was modified inside the called function
and therefore is different. With optimized code, the current value could be
unavailable, but the entry value may still be known.
<p>The default value is <code>default</code> (see below for its description). Older
<span class="sc">gdb</span> behaved as with the setting <code>no</code>. Compilers not supporting
this feature will behave in the <code>default</code> setting the same way as with the
<code>no</code> setting.
<p>This functionality is currently supported only by DWARF 2 debugging format and
the compiler has to produce &lsquo;<samp><span class="samp">DW_TAG_call_site</span></samp>&rsquo; tags. With
<span class="sc">gcc</span>, you need to specify <samp><span class="option">-O -g</span></samp> during compilation, to get
this information.
<p>The <var>value</var> parameter can be one of the following:
<dl>
<dt><code>no</code><dd>Print only actual parameter values, never print values from function entry
point.
<pre class="smallexample"> #0 equal (val=5)
#0 different (val=6)
#0 lost (val=&lt;optimized out&gt;)
#0 born (val=10)
#0 invalid (val=&lt;optimized out&gt;)
</pre>
<br><dt><code>only</code><dd>Print only parameter values from function entry point. The actual parameter
values are never printed.
<pre class="smallexample"> #0 equal (val@entry=5)
#0 different (val@entry=5)
#0 lost (val@entry=5)
#0 born (val@entry=&lt;optimized out&gt;)
#0 invalid (val@entry=&lt;optimized out&gt;)
</pre>
<br><dt><code>preferred</code><dd>Print only parameter values from function entry point. If value from function
entry point is not known while the actual value is known, print the actual
value for such parameter.
<pre class="smallexample"> #0 equal (val@entry=5)
#0 different (val@entry=5)
#0 lost (val@entry=5)
#0 born (val=10)
#0 invalid (val@entry=&lt;optimized out&gt;)
</pre>
<br><dt><code>if-needed</code><dd>Print actual parameter values. If actual parameter value is not known while
value from function entry point is known, print the entry point value for such
parameter.
<pre class="smallexample"> #0 equal (val=5)
#0 different (val=6)
#0 lost (val@entry=5)
#0 born (val=10)
#0 invalid (val=&lt;optimized out&gt;)
</pre>
<br><dt><code>both</code><dd>Always print both the actual parameter value and its value from function entry
point, even if values of one or both are not available due to compiler
optimizations.
<pre class="smallexample"> #0 equal (val=5, val@entry=5)
#0 different (val=6, val@entry=5)
#0 lost (val=&lt;optimized out&gt;, val@entry=5)
#0 born (val=10, val@entry=&lt;optimized out&gt;)
#0 invalid (val=&lt;optimized out&gt;, val@entry=&lt;optimized out&gt;)
</pre>
<br><dt><code>compact</code><dd>Print the actual parameter value if it is known and also its value from
function entry point if it is known. If neither is known, print for the actual
value <code>&lt;optimized out&gt;</code>. If not in MI mode (see <a href="GDB_002fMI.html#GDB_002fMI">GDB/MI</a>) and if both
values are known and identical, print the shortened
<code>param=param@entry=VALUE</code> notation.
<pre class="smallexample"> #0 equal (val=val@entry=5)
#0 different (val=6, val@entry=5)
#0 lost (val@entry=5)
#0 born (val=10)
#0 invalid (val=&lt;optimized out&gt;)
</pre>
<br><dt><code>default</code><dd>Always print the actual parameter value. Print also its value from function
entry point, but only if it is known. If not in MI mode (see <a href="GDB_002fMI.html#GDB_002fMI">GDB/MI</a>) and
if both values are known and identical, print the shortened
<code>param=param@entry=VALUE</code> notation.
<pre class="smallexample"> #0 equal (val=val@entry=5)
#0 different (val=6, val@entry=5)
#0 lost (val=&lt;optimized out&gt;, val@entry=5)
#0 born (val=10)
#0 invalid (val=&lt;optimized out&gt;)
</pre>
</dl>
<p>For analysis messages on possible failures of frame argument values at function
entry resolution see <a href="set-debug-entry_002dvalues.html#set-debug-entry_002dvalues">set debug entry-values</a>.
<br><dt><code>show print entry-values</code><dd>Show the method being used for printing of frame argument values at function
entry.
<br><dt><code>set print repeats </code><var>number-of-repeats</var><dt><code>set print repeats unlimited</code><dd><a name="index-repeated-array-elements-694"></a>Set the threshold for suppressing display of repeated array
elements. When the number of consecutive identical elements of an
array exceeds the threshold, <span class="sc">gdb</span> prints the string
<code>"&lt;repeats </code><var>n</var><code> times&gt;"</code>, where <var>n</var> is the number of
identical repetitions, instead of displaying the identical elements
themselves. Setting the threshold to <code>unlimited</code> or zero will
cause all elements to be individually printed. The default threshold
is 10.
<br><dt><code>show print repeats</code><dd>Display the current threshold for printing repeated identical
elements.
<br><dt><code>set print null-stop</code><dd><a name="index-g_t_0040sc_007bnull_007d-elements-in-arrays-695"></a>Cause <span class="sc">gdb</span> to stop printing the characters of an array when the first
<span class="sc">null</span> is encountered. This is useful when large arrays actually
contain only short strings.
The default is off.
<br><dt><code>show print null-stop</code><dd>Show whether <span class="sc">gdb</span> stops printing an array on the first
<span class="sc">null</span> character.
<br><dt><code>set print pretty on</code><dd><a name="index-print-structures-in-indented-form-696"></a><a name="index-indentation-in-structure-display-697"></a>Cause <span class="sc">gdb</span> to print structures in an indented format with one member
per line, like this:
<pre class="smallexample"> $1 = {
next = 0x0,
flags = {
sweet = 1,
sour = 1
},
meat = 0x54 "Pork"
}
</pre>
<br><dt><code>set print pretty off</code><dd>Cause <span class="sc">gdb</span> to print structures in a compact format, like this:
<pre class="smallexample"> $1 = {next = 0x0, flags = {sweet = 1, sour = 1}, \
meat = 0x54 "Pork"}
</pre>
<p class="noindent">This is the default format.
<br><dt><code>show print pretty</code><dd>Show which format <span class="sc">gdb</span> is using to print structures.
<br><dt><code>set print sevenbit-strings on</code><dd><a name="index-eight_002dbit-characters-in-strings-698"></a><a name="index-octal-escapes-in-strings-699"></a>Print using only seven-bit characters; if this option is set,
<span class="sc">gdb</span> displays any eight-bit characters (in strings or
character values) using the notation <code>\</code><var>nnn</var>. This setting is
best if you are working in English (<span class="sc">ascii</span>) and you use the
high-order bit of characters as a marker or &ldquo;meta&rdquo; bit.
<br><dt><code>set print sevenbit-strings off</code><dd>Print full eight-bit characters. This allows the use of more
international character sets, and is the default.
<br><dt><code>show print sevenbit-strings</code><dd>Show whether or not <span class="sc">gdb</span> is printing only seven-bit characters.
<br><dt><code>set print union on</code><dd><a name="index-unions-in-structures_002c-printing-700"></a>Tell <span class="sc">gdb</span> to print unions which are contained in structures
and other unions. This is the default setting.
<br><dt><code>set print union off</code><dd>Tell <span class="sc">gdb</span> not to print unions which are contained in
structures and other unions. <span class="sc">gdb</span> will print <code>"{...}"</code>
instead.
<br><dt><code>show print union</code><dd>Ask <span class="sc">gdb</span> whether or not it will print unions which are contained in
structures and other unions.
<p>For example, given the declarations
<pre class="smallexample"> typedef enum {Tree, Bug} Species;
typedef enum {Big_tree, Acorn, Seedling} Tree_forms;
typedef enum {Caterpillar, Cocoon, Butterfly}
Bug_forms;
struct thing {
Species it;
union {
Tree_forms tree;
Bug_forms bug;
} form;
};
struct thing foo = {Tree, {Acorn}};
</pre>
<p class="noindent">with <code>set print union on</code> in effect &lsquo;<samp><span class="samp">p foo</span></samp>&rsquo; would print
<pre class="smallexample"> $1 = {it = Tree, form = {tree = Acorn, bug = Cocoon}}
</pre>
<p class="noindent">and with <code>set print union off</code> in effect it would print
<pre class="smallexample"> $1 = {it = Tree, form = {...}}
</pre>
<p class="noindent"><code>set print union</code> affects programs written in C-like languages
and in Pascal.
</dl>
<p class="noindent">These settings are of interest when debugging C<tt>++</tt> programs:
<a name="index-demangling-C_0040t_007b_002b_002b_007d-names-701"></a>
<dl><dt><code>set print demangle</code><dt><code>set print demangle on</code><dd>Print C<tt>++</tt> names in their source form rather than in the encoded
(&ldquo;mangled&rdquo;) form passed to the assembler and linker for type-safe
linkage. The default is on.
<br><dt><code>show print demangle</code><dd>Show whether C<tt>++</tt> names are printed in mangled or demangled form.
<br><dt><code>set print asm-demangle</code><dt><code>set print asm-demangle on</code><dd>Print C<tt>++</tt> names in their source form rather than their mangled form, even
in assembler code printouts such as instruction disassemblies.
The default is off.
<br><dt><code>show print asm-demangle</code><dd>Show whether C<tt>++</tt> names in assembly listings are printed in mangled
or demangled form.
<p><a name="index-C_0040t_007b_002b_002b_007d-symbol-decoding-style-702"></a><a name="index-symbol-decoding-style_002c-C_0040t_007b_002b_002b_007d-703"></a><a name="index-set-demangle_002dstyle-704"></a><br><dt><code>set demangle-style </code><var>style</var><dd>Choose among several encoding schemes used by different compilers to represent
C<tt>++</tt> names. If you omit <var>style</var>, you will see a list of possible
formats. The default value is <var>auto</var>, which lets <span class="sc">gdb</span> choose a
decoding style by inspecting your program.
<br><dt><code>show demangle-style</code><dd>Display the encoding style currently in use for decoding C<tt>++</tt> symbols.
<br><dt><code>set print object</code><dt><code>set print object on</code><dd><a name="index-derived-type-of-an-object_002c-printing-705"></a><a name="index-display-derived-types-706"></a>When displaying a pointer to an object, identify the <em>actual</em>
(derived) type of the object rather than the <em>declared</em> type, using
the virtual function table. Note that the virtual function table is
required&mdash;this feature can only work for objects that have run-time
type identification; a single virtual method in the object's declared
type is sufficient. Note that this setting is also taken into account when
working with variable objects via MI (see <a href="GDB_002fMI.html#GDB_002fMI">GDB/MI</a>).
<br><dt><code>set print object off</code><dd>Display only the declared type of objects, without reference to the
virtual function table. This is the default setting.
<br><dt><code>show print object</code><dd>Show whether actual, or declared, object types are displayed.
<br><dt><code>set print static-members</code><dt><code>set print static-members on</code><dd><a name="index-static-members-of-C_0040t_007b_002b_002b_007d-objects-707"></a>Print static members when displaying a C<tt>++</tt> object. The default is on.
<br><dt><code>set print static-members off</code><dd>Do not print static members when displaying a C<tt>++</tt> object.
<br><dt><code>show print static-members</code><dd>Show whether C<tt>++</tt> static members are printed or not.
<br><dt><code>set print pascal_static-members</code><dt><code>set print pascal_static-members on</code><dd><a name="index-static-members-of-Pascal-objects-708"></a><a name="index-Pascal-objects_002c-static-members-display-709"></a>Print static members when displaying a Pascal object. The default is on.
<br><dt><code>set print pascal_static-members off</code><dd>Do not print static members when displaying a Pascal object.
<br><dt><code>show print pascal_static-members</code><dd>Show whether Pascal static members are printed or not.
<!-- These don't work with HP ANSI C++ yet. -->
<br><dt><code>set print vtbl</code><dt><code>set print vtbl on</code><dd><a name="index-pretty-print-C_0040t_007b_002b_002b_007d-virtual-function-tables-710"></a><a name="index-virtual-functions-_0028C_0040t_007b_002b_002b_007d_0029-display-711"></a><a name="index-VTBL-display-712"></a>Pretty print C<tt>++</tt> virtual function tables. The default is off.
(The <code>vtbl</code> commands do not work on programs compiled with the HP
ANSI C<tt>++</tt> compiler (<code>aCC</code>).)
<br><dt><code>set print vtbl off</code><dd>Do not pretty print C<tt>++</tt> virtual function tables.
<br><dt><code>show print vtbl</code><dd>Show whether C<tt>++</tt> virtual function tables are pretty printed, or not.
</dl>
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