topic Re: Debugging ArcMap Add-In .Net 4.5 : Unable to start ArcMap.exe in ArcObjects SDK Questions

Debugging ArcMap Add-In .Net 4.5 : Unable to start ArcMap.exe

RaymondTiefengraber1 — Wed, 10 Jun 2015 12:15:33 GMT

I am developping an ArcMap 10.3 Add-In targeting .NET framework 4.5 on Visual Studio 2013. I used ESRI's wizard to build a simple button add-in and the projects debug properties are configured to start the external program "C:\Program Files (x86)\ArcGIS\Desktop10.3\bin\ArcMap.exe".

The add-in ran properly when I started debuggig the Add-In for the first time but I couldn't get the breakpoints to hit. I followed ESRI recommandation "How to debug" on ESRI online help and modified the ArcMap.exe.config file to enable supported runtime 4.0.30319

<startup>

<supportedRuntime version="v4.0.30319"/>

</startup>

The next time I started debuggin the Add-In I get an error message from Visual Studio : "Error while trying to run project: Unable to start program 'C:\Program Files (x86)\Desktop10.3\bin\ArcMap.exe'."

This error message comes right after ArcMap's splash screen. The following screenshot is not from the actual Add-in because the splash screen appears and disappears way too fast and I can't get screenshot.

I tried different things but without success :

build the project using different platforms :"Any CPU" and "x86"
changed "ArcCatalog.exe.config" file to use the same supported runtime
restarted computer
used different supported runtime version: version="v4.0.30319", version="v4.0", version="v4.5"

I dont know what to do next to be able to debug the Add-in. I don't want to develop without this feature!

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

Re: Debugging ArcMap Add-In .Net 4.5 : Unable to start ArcMap.exe

RaymondTiefengraber1 — Thu, 11 Jun 2015 17:54:51 GMT

The culprit is Visual Studio 2013 but I don't know the exact reason why. I installed Visual Studio 2012 on the same machine and I was able to debug an ArcGIS Desktop 10.3 Add-In with .Net 4.5.

Re: Debugging ArcMap Add-In .Net 4.5 : Unable to start ArcMap.exe

RaymondTiefengraber1 — Fri, 12 Jun 2015 20:40:41 GMT

I finally got to debug the ArcMap 10.3 Add-in with VS2013 in .Net 4.5. I had to attach VS2013 to ArcMap.exe process. This is kinda annoying but it is the only way I got it to work. I'm still confused on why this is happening.

How to attach process

Start ArcMap
In VS2013, go to menu "DEBUG" -> "Attach to Process"
Select "ArcMap.exe" and click on "Attach" button
In ArcMap, make sure the Add-In is installed.

If the Add-in is not installed whe you attach the process, you can try one of these things :

Stop debugging and reattach process until Add-Inn is installed
Install Add-in manually from your add-in debug folder.

Re: Debugging ArcMap Add-In .Net 4.5 : Unable to start ArcMap.exe

FabienAncelin — Tue, 07 Jul 2015 18:44:44 GMT

In Visual Studio,

Go in your project properties and go to the tab Debug. Make sure that in the section "Start Action", the radio button "Start External Program" is checked and that you put the map to your ArcMap execution file. In my case: "C:\Program Files (x86)\ArcGIS\Desktop10.3\bin\ArcMap.exe"

Hope this helps.

Fabien

PS: the link to the official doc: ArcObjects Help for .NET developers

Re: Debugging ArcMap Add-In .Net 4.5 : Unable to start ArcMap.exe

RaymondTiefengraber1 — Wed, 08 Jul 2015 14:31:34 GMT

Thanks for your time but I already did this as mentioned in my first post.

I am developping an ArcMap 10.3 Add-In targeting .NET framework 4.5 on Visual Studio 2013. I used ESRI's wizard to build a simple button add-in and the projects debug properties are configured to start the external program "C:\Program Files (x86)\ArcGIS\Desktop10.3\bin\ArcMap.exe".

I finally decided to use VS2012 instead of VS2013 for now.

Re: Debugging ArcMap Add-In .Net 4.5 : Unable to start ArcMap.exe

AlexanderNohe1 — Thu, 09 Jul 2015 18:54:02 GMT

I had the same issue a little while ago and repairing the .NET Framework helped resolve the issue for me.

Re: Debugging ArcMap Add-In .Net 4.5 : Unable to start ArcMap.exe

AlexanderGray — Wed, 23 Dec 2015 19:03:22 GMT

"repairing the .NET Framework helped resolve the issue for me."

Can you expand on what you did exactly or provide a reference. I am having this problem a lot. I find that hitting debug repeatedly will sometimes work after two or three times. If after the 5th time, it didn't, I clean the solution, shutdown VS2013, restart VS2013 rebuild and try again. Occasionally none of that works and I have to delete the suo file and try again. At times all that and a reboot it is the only thing that will work...

Re: Debugging ArcMap Add-In .Net 4.5 : Unable to start ArcMap.exe

AlexanderNohe1 — Wed, 23 Dec 2015 20:42:51 GMT

Considering that this was awhile ago, it is a little fuzzy for me. I remember following a guide from Microsoft on how to go about repairing the framework. This might be of some help:

How to repair an existing installation of the .NET framework

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/306160

In addition, you may find this useful:

Download Microsoft .NET Framework Repair Tool from Official Microsoft Download Center

Re: Debugging ArcMap Add-In .Net 4.5 : Unable to start ArcMap.exe

AlexanderGray — Thu, 07 Jan 2016 16:45:25 GMT

This has not worked for me...

Re: Debugging ArcMap Add-In .Net 4.5 : Unable to start ArcMap.exe

PrestonMcCormick — Thu, 07 Jan 2016 19:13:17 GMT

In Visual Studio 2013, to fix this check Use Managed Compatibility Mode in Options > Debugging > General (it's last option in the list).

Re: Debugging ArcMap Add-In .Net 4.5 : Unable to start ArcMap.exe

AlexanderGray — Thu, 07 Jan 2016 20:47:28 GMT

Awesome, just what I was looking for. So far it works great

Re: Debugging ArcMap Add-In .Net 4.5 : Unable to start ArcMap.exe

NickStrickling — Thu, 28 Jan 2016 19:42:58 GMT

This also worked for me. Thank You!!

Any insight to why this works?

EIther way, thanks again.

Re: Debugging ArcMap Add-In .Net 4.5 : Unable to start ArcMap.exe

RaymondTiefengraber1 — Wed, 10 Feb 2016 21:37:24 GMT

Thank you! I was able to run and debug the Addin.

Re: Debugging ArcMap Add-In .Net 4.5 : Unable to start ArcMap.exe

DavidWilton — Thu, 24 Mar 2016 01:55:07 GMT

Yeah great! It works but we lose edit and continue?! This wouldn't be so bad if ArcMap didn't take an age to start. This makes debugging very tiresome

Re: Debugging ArcMap Add-In .Net 4.5 : Unable to start ArcMap.exe

ChrisSaylor — Fri, 07 Apr 2017 15:14:29 GMT

This may be a fluke, but I seem to have stumbled upon a solution. Open VS, turn on Managed Compatibility Mode and start ArcMap once. Hit the stop button to close ArcMap, then turn off Managed Compatibility Mode, then press play. ArcMap magically started the second time, and I was able to use edit-and-continue. I tried this in both VS 2013 and VS 2015, and it worked, though in VS 2013 I had to press play 3 times in a row before ArcMap started. Like I said, I'm not sure if this is a solution per se, but it works at least for me.