how to debug dll from Microsoft Access

Question

I have a c++ project using visual studio 2013. It compiles a dll.

The dll is called by a Microsoft Access project. In the Microsoft Access project, we prepare the inputs for the dll, and declares which dll to call, and calls the dll with prepared inputs.The dll returns output to Access.

My goal is to be able to step through the c++ code because I want to improve the c++ code.

Any suggestions on how may I call the dll from Access and then step through the c++ code?

Answer 1

The Visual Studio Debugger, when debugging a DLL allows you to select the executable which is going to load that DLL. So find the MS Access executable, and specify that path. Then put a breakpoint as you would normally do, to indicate where you want to start debugging.

Answer 2

In addition to MSalters' answer, which is correct, you may start Access in the usual way, and attach to a running process. In Visual Studio, it's under menu, Debug/Attach...

If Access loads a debug build of the DLL, line breakpoints in the DLL sources will break into Visual Studio upon execution, as expected.