Business Central 2024 wave 2 (BC25): Allow downloading symbols using an Attach type launch configuration

Hi, Readers.
The public preview for Dynamics 365 Business Central 2024 release wave 2 (BC25) is available. Learn more: Link.

I will continue to test and share some new features that I hope will be helpful.

In this post, I would like to talk about Allow downloading symbols using an Attach type launch configuration in Business Central 2024 release wave 2 (BC25). This is not yet documented in the Business Central 2024 release wave 2 (BC25) release plan. But it is mentioned in AL Language extension changelog Version 14.0

The launch.json file contains information about the server that the extension launches on. The launch.json file has multiple configuration options available, for example, for snapshot debugging and attach debugging. In Visual Studio Code, you can choose to add a new configuration to the launch.json file, by selecting the Add Configuration button. More details: Launch JSON file

It contains a request setting.
request: Request type of configuration. Can be “launch” or “attach”.

The attach configuration is used for specific debugging scenarios where you don’t want to publish and invoke functionality to debug it. For more information, see Business Central 2023 wave 1 (BC22): Attach AL debugger to active session or next session (Specific user) or Attach to client on cloud sandbox settings (launch.json)

Until now, it has been impossible to download symbols directly when “request” is “attach”. Let’s look at an example. I have two environments, one is v24.4 and the other is 25.0.

The settings are the same except for “environmentName”.

{
    "version": "0.2.0",
    "configurations": [
        {
            "name": "Attach: Microsoft cloud sandbox",
            "type": "al",
            "request": "attach",
            "environmentType": "Sandbox",
            "environmentName": "Sandbox25Preview",
            "tenant": "7e47da45-7f7d-448a-bd3d-1f4aa2ec8f62",
            "breakOnError": "All",
            "breakOnRecordWrite": "None",
            "enableSqlInformationDebugger": true,
            "enableLongRunningSqlStatements": true,
            "longRunningSqlStatementsThreshold": 500,
            "numberOfSqlStatements": 10,
            "breakOnNext": "WebServiceClient"
        }
    ]
}

BC v24.4:

Error: No server has been chosen.

BC v25.0: Symbols have been download.

Small update, but it makes life easier. Give it a try!!!😁

END

Hope this will help.

Thanks for reading.

ZHU