Unable to debug Stored Procedure

D D 1 Reputation point
2021-08-30T20:02:34.027+00:00

I get the following error:

Unable to start the Transact-SQL debugger, could not connect to the Database Engine instance. Make sure you have enabled the debugging firewall exceptions and are using a login that is a member of the sysadmin fixed server role.
I'm debugging in VS2019 Community Edition

I have:

  1. Enabled Firewall rules
  2. After above did not work I disabled the firewall completely
  3. Confirmed sa account had sysadmin role
    Installed SQL server on same machine as Visual Studio to avoid any Domain security issues.
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Visual Studio Debugging
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Transact-SQL
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2 answers

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  1. Erland Sommarskog 101.4K Reputation points MVP
    2021-08-30T21:18:19.05+00:00

    Using the T-SQL debugger against something else than your local instance, requires quite a bit of red tape. Personally, it is soon twenty years I stopped using the debugger. I spent more time to get it working than I won in productivity.

    And since the debugger mainly works with variables, and the most interesting action goes on in tables, it is of limited use anyway.

    I used PRINT, SELECT and occasionally sp_sqltrace.

  2. Seeya Xi-MSFT 16,441 Reputation points
    2021-08-31T03:18:57.607+00:00

    Hi @D D ,

    Windows Firewall rules must be configured to enable Transact-SQL debugging.
    See:https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/sql/ssms/scripting/configure-firewall-rules-before-running-the-tsql-debugger?view=sql-server-ver15

    Try to start it by right clicking and selecting run as administrator, which is one of Requirements for Starting the Debugger.
    BTW, this feature works with SSMS version 17.9.1 and earlier.

    Best regards,
    Seeya

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