Using the Playback toolbar

Use the Playback toolbar to step backward and forward through the execution history of the debug session for viewing.

1. To show the Playback toolbar, click the View Menu () in the upper-right corner of the Debug view and select Show Playback Toolbar.
2. Start a debug session.
3. You can modify the options for playback on the Playback preferences page. To open the preferences page, complete the following steps:
   1. Click the down arrow next to the Start Playback Recording button .
   2. Select Preferences from the pull-down menu.
   On the preferences page, you can set the maximum amount of memory to use when you record.

   Note: The other options on the preferences page are not currently available with z/OS® Debugger.
4. To start Playback mode, click the Start Playback Recording button .
   The button switches to the Stop Playback Recording button to indicate that Playback mode is active.
   Enabling playback records the entire execution path.
5. Debug your program as usual until you reach a point where you want to go back.
6. To move backward through the debug session and view the execution history, click the Move Back button .
   You will return to the previous line executed by the debugger, which might not match the line from a previous stepping or resume the action during the debug session.

   Notes:

   • The stepping buttons on the debug toolbar are disabled in Playback mode.
   • Variables can be modified during recording, but cannot be modified during replay.
7. To move forward through the debug session, click the Move Forward button .
   You can move forward only after you have moved back at least once.
8. To return to debugging, click the Resume Debugging button .
   You will return to the line where you initially clicked the Move Back button .

   Note: The Playback tool continues recording the execution path when the Stop Playback Recording button is visible.
9. To stop Playback recording, click the Stop Playback Recording button .
   The Playback mode ends, and you cannot use the Move Back button to view the execution history any more.