Using Spy++

You can use Spy++ to perform the following tasks.

To install required components for Spy++, see Start Spy++.

Spy++ views

When Spy++ starts, it opens in Windows view, a tree view of all windows and controls available on your machine. This root window is captioned Windows 1. There are also three other Spy++ views available:

• Messages view
• Processes view
• Threads view

You can display the desired view from the Spy menu.

Messages view

You can choose the windows and message types shown in a Messages view window.

For more information on using Messages view, see Using Messages view

Processes view

The Processes view displays a tree of all active processes on your system. The process ID and module name are shown. Use the Processes view if you want to examine a particular system process, which usually corresponds to an executing program. Processes are identified by module names, or they're designated system processes.

Microsoft Windows supports multiple processes. Each process can have one or more threads, and each thread can have one or more associated top-level windows. Each top-level window can own a series of windows. A + symbol indicates that a level is collapsed. The collapsed view consists of one line per process. Select the + symbol to expand the level.

Use the Processes view if you want to examine a particular system process, which usually corresponds to an executing program. Processes are identified by module names, or they're designated system processes. To find a process, collapse the tree and search the list.

For information on searching for a process, see Search for a process in Processes view.

Threads view

The Threads view is a flat listing of all threads associated with windows on your system. The Thread ID and module name for each thread are shown. Processes aren't included, but you can easily find the process that owns a selected thread.

For information on searching for a thread, see Search for a thread in Threads view.

Refresh the view

Spy++ takes a snapshot of the system tables and refreshes a view based on this information. It's important that you periodically refresh your system views. If you have a Spy++ view open and haven't refreshed the view, you don't see those processes, threads, and windows that are later created. Also, you might see items that no longer exist. The Refresh command is available for all views except the Messages view.

To refresh the currently active view:

• Select Refresh from the Window menu, or choose the Refresh button in the toolbar.

Change fonts

You can change the font, font style, and font size for Spy++ windows.

To change font options:

1. From the View menu, select Font.

2. Choose a font, font style, and font size.

3. Select OK.

   Selecting Save Font As Default causes all future Spy++ windows to use this font.

Expand and collapse Spy++ trees

You can expand and collapse the windows, processes, and threads views by using two methods: by selecting the icons in the window or by using the Tree menu. The + and - icons in the tree act as they do in the C++ project window.

The Tree menu contains four commands:

To expand or collapse Spy++ trees:

1. Highlight one of the items in the windows, processes, or threads view.

2. From the Tree menu, choose one of the expand or collapse commands.

Related sections

• Spy++ reference