Setting Options

Attach to Running Process

Select this option to display the 'Attach to Process' dialog, from which you choose an active process to Profile.

Switch to Debugger

Select this option to change operations from Profiling to Debugging. The Debugger has an equivalent drop-down menu option that you can use to switch from Debugging to Profiling.

Load Report

Select this option to load a previously saved report from the file system.

Analyzer Scripts

Select this option to open the Analyzer Script window, which is the model repository for configuring builds, debugging, and all other Visual Execution Analyzer options.

Delay Sampling

Select this option to set a delay between clicking on a 'Start Profiling' option and the Profiling actually beginning. The delay can be 3, 5 or 10 seconds. Select 'None' to cancel any delay set.

CallGraph Aggregates Method

When this option is selected, instances of the identical stack sequences are aggregated by method. That is to say, line numbers / instructions within a method are ignored, so two stacks will be counted as one where they differ only by line number in their final frame.

CallGraph Samples Include Wait State

When this option is selected, the Profiler will sample all threads, including those in Wait states. When unselected, the Profiler only samples threads that have accumulated CPU time since the last interval expired.

Start Sampling Immediately

Select this option to trigger Data Collection immediately on launch. You would typically use this option to profile a process during start up.

Discard Fragments

When stacks cannot be reconciled to the entry point of a thread they are referred to as fragments. The number of fragments encountered during sampling is displayed in the sampler Summary window. You can set this option to collect or discard fragments; when the Discard Fragments option is:

• Selected, fragments do not appear in the reports, although the number encountered is still updated
• Deselected, a special collection named 'fragments' is created in the call graph to house them, and to ensure they data is not mixed in with the complete samples

Capture Debug Output

(Applies to Process Sampling). When selected, output normally visible during debugging is captured and displayed in the Debug window. Note that only debug builds will typically emit debug output.

Stop Process on Exit

This option determines termination behavior for the Profiler. When the option is selected, the target process will terminate when the Profiler is stopped.