Debug.WriteLine shows nothing

Question

When using

using System.Diagnostics; 

and

Debug.WriteLine("Test"); 

having run the application, no "Test" can be seen in output. But if I use the msgbox function instead, the msgbox pops up, so the line is reached.

Am I looking in the wrong window or what do I have to change?

I am using VC# Express.

Answer 1

On Menu > tools > options > debugging > General:

• Ensure "Redirect all output window text to the immediate window" is NOT checked

On Project Properties > Build:

• Configuration: Debug
• "Define DEBUG constant" is checked
• "Define TRACE constant" is checked

On the Output window:

• Show output from: Debug
• Right-click in the output window and ensure "Program output" is checked

Answer 2

There are two likely causes for this behavior

• The application is being compiled in Release mode and the Debug.WriteLine call is not in the final program
• There is no trace listener in the program and hence nothnig to output the message

The easiest way to diagnose this is to change the code to

#if DEBUG Console.WriteLine("the message"); #endif 

If it prints then you have an issue with the trace listeners, else you're compiling in Release