Javascript Debugging

For some reason (must be me),  I am having lots of trouble setting breakpoints in my JavaScript.  I have tried with Chrome, FireFox (Dev edition and regular) and IE and when I can find the line to break, it doesn't break on it when I refresh.

I am using dreamweaver (latest) and try to preview in each browser and then  hit f12 to open the tools, but no breaks for me.

Please advise.  This is bizarre.
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Howard BashSenior Software EngineerAsked:
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Julian HansenCommented:
There is little we can do to help with the information provided. Do you have a link we can look at? Are you certain the code is being run?

I use breakpoints all the time without issue - in fact the only real issues are
a) Finding the line of code in the first place - not always obvious
b) Remembering to remove the break point
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Howard BashSenior Software EngineerAuthor Commented:
Here is the code:
<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>

  <head>
    <script src="https://ajax.googleapis.com/ajax/libs/jquery/3.1.1/jquery.min.js" data-require="jquery@*" data-semver="3.1.1"></script>
    <link href="style.css" rel="stylesheet" />
    <script src="script.js"></script>
    
    <script type="text/javascript">
    $( document ).ready(function() {    
		
        alert( "ready!" );        
		
		var p = ["NPD-2016-12", "XYZ", "   ", "XYZ", " "];
		var c = CleanedArray(p);
		
		var cc = DedupeArray (c);
		
		alert (c + " : Length=" + c.length);
		alert (cc + " : Length=" + cc.length);
		
		$(".btnTest").click(function() {
			
			alert( "Handler for .click() called." );

		});				
		
    });
      
    </script>
    
    <script type="text/javascript">
		
	  function CleanedArray(p) {		  
		  var cleanp = [];
		  for (var ptr=0; ptr<p.length; ptr++) {
			  var tmp = p[ptr];
			  tmp = tmp.trim();
			  if (tmp.length>0) {
				  cleanp.push(tmp);
			  }				  
		  }		  
		  return cleanp;		  
	  }
            		
	function DedupeArray(aR) {
		try {
			var listlength = aR.length;        
			var newaR =[];
			var currentVal = aR[0];
			var uniqueElement = true;
			newaR.push(currentVal);
			
			for (var ptrOuter=1; ptrOuter<listlength; ptrOuter++) {
				for (var ptrInner=2; ptrInner<listlength; ptrInner++) {                                                                        
					if (aR[ptr]==currentVal) {
						uniqueElement = false;
					}                                                                                                                                                        
				}
				if (uniqueElement) {
					newaR.push(aR[ptrOuter]);
					uniqueElement = true;
				}	
				currentVal = aR[ptrOuter];
			}
		}		
		catch(err) {
			console.write('Error in DedupeArray:' + err.message);
		}
		finally {
			return newaR;                
		}
	}

				
    </script>

    
  </head>

  <body>
    <h1>Hello Plunker!</h1>
    
    <button type="button" class="btnTest" style="background-color: blue; color: white">Test</button>
    
  </body>

</html>

Open in new window


From Dreamweaver I preview it and try with f12 to get to break in the script.  I search for a function in the page, set the break and it doesn't break.  The ready message is displayed as are the alerts on the returns, but no luck on breaking.
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Howard BashSenior Software EngineerAuthor Commented:
Also,  note the breakpoint set in IE after Dreamweaver preview selected:
No Breaks.
Sometimes I see an eval() with a line number and some disabled looking break icon.
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Julian HansenCommented:
Are you talking about a breakpoint set in DW or in the F12 - where are you actually setting the break points?

I have no experience of DW - I set the break points in the browser using Dev Tools.
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Howard BashSenior Software EngineerAuthor Commented:
I am launching the browser via Dreamweaver.
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Julian HansenCommented:
Yes but where are you setting the breakpoint?

Have you tried going into F12 / Debugger and setting a break point there?

As I said not familiar with DW debugging.
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Howard BashSenior Software EngineerAuthor Commented:
It's outside of DW after I launch the browser.  I use F12 to bring up the tools.  What I have just found is that if I make local web site and save the file to the site,  I can set breakpoints and they break.  The issue is something with how DW wraps the page when it previews.  That takes care of the DW part.

But,  I still am finding in other pages, where the javascript is in a separate file that I cannot get to that file to attempt to set a break within.  It's not clear if there may be some other issue like a component on the page that is wrapping the page somewhat like we observed with DW.  I am wondering if it is a site setting (the pages for my dev work on in SharePoint) difference between my dev site and my prod site are to blame.

The tree of files when I hit F12 looks quite different even though the sites are structurally the same.
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Howard BashSenior Software EngineerAuthor Commented:
Here is a view in chrome for source panels in test and prod sites:
Prod:
Prod
Test:
Test
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Julian HansenCommented:
When you debug you have to select the script file that contains the code you are working in see below
ss113.jpg
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Howard BashSenior Software EngineerAuthor Commented:
I see the file in test as depicted above but not in production.  That's the quandary.
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Julian HansenCommented:
How do you publish your site - does DW do it for you. I am guessing there is some sort of minifying going on - your scripts and css are being compressed and packed - they usually come out the other side with a generated file name.

What you can do is go through each of the Sources by clicking on them and then examining the code. Because of the packing / compressing the code looks like a fruit salad - fortunately Dev Tools can help you out with the Prettify Source button see below
ss114.jpg
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Howard BashSenior Software EngineerAuthor Commented:
No DW for SharePoint publishing.  The process it pretty simple.  You check out and download a file.  You edit it, upload it, check it in an publish it.  There is no minifying going on.  I usually edit in notepad++, save locally and upload the file(s) check in and when needed publish them.
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Julian HansenCommented:
Then if you do a view source on the page you should see the script there. Click on the link and it should load - if that all works it should be visible in the list of scripts in the Debugger tab
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Howard BashSenior Software EngineerAuthor Commented:
The script file reference is embedded and that may be why the debuggers don't show it.  When I go to debugger and ask it to find a function to break in, the debugger finds it.  But,  the location listed in the breakpoints is odd: "eval code (138) (179,3)".

The (179,3) is the location in the js file that I set the breakpoint.  I then hit the F5 key, the page reloads and the break not only isn't hit, but when I go back to the function,  the breakpoint (the red dot) is gone.
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Julian HansenCommented:
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Howard BashSenior Software EngineerAuthor Commented:
I checked the URL you listed.  It doesn't seem to apply.  Here is a screen shot of the breakpoint in IE.

Not Break
F5 doesn't then break there and when I find the function again the break isn't there.
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Julian HansenCommented:
Have you tried in FireFox? I don't have much experience with IE
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Howard BashSenior Software EngineerAuthor Commented:
I have tried with IE, Chrome and Firefox (dev and non dev versions).
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Julian HansenCommented:
Can you find the file that code is in - i.e. view source and then click on the link to it.
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Howard BashSenior Software EngineerAuthor Commented:
I know where the file is.  I just don't see it in the debug list of folders and files.
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Julian HansenCommented:
@Howard,

Apologies for not replying.

Without being able to replicate difficult to diagnose. Suggest you wrap this question up and maybe ask again - this thread is long enough to become a TLDR for other experts.
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