VS Code debugging prompting for arguments and also setting the working directory-CodePudding

I know how to pass fixed arguments in the launch.json, e.g. In Visual Studio Code, how to pass arguments in launch.json . What I really need is a prompt where I can give a value for an argument that changes.

In addition, my argument is a (data) directory for which there is a very ugly long absolute path. I'd really like to be able to set the working directory to a path which contains each of my individual data directories so I only need to provide a relative directory path, i.e. just the directory name.

I'm working with Python, on Windows (not my choice) using VS Code 1.55.2 (not my choice, either).

CodePudding user response：

You can use input variables

{
  "version": "0.2.0",
  "configurations": [
    {
      "name": "Python: Current File with arguments",
      "type": "python",
      "request": "launch",
      "program": "${file}",
      "args": [
        "--dir",
        "/some/fixed/dir/${input:enterDir}"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "inputs": [
    {
      "id": "enterDir",
      "type": "promptString",
      "description": "Subdirectory to process",
      "default": "data-0034"
    }
  ]
}

You can place the ${input:enterDir} in any string in the task "configurations" like the "cwd" property.

If you like to pick a directory from a list because it is dynamic you can use the extension Command Variable that has the command pickFile

Command Variable v1.36.0 supports the fixed folder specification.

{
  "version": "0.2.0",
  "configurations": [
    {
      "name": "Python: Current File with arguments",
      "type": "python",
      "request": "launch",
      "program": "${file}",
      "args": [
        "--dir",
        "${input:pickDir}"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "inputs": [
    {
      "id": "pickDir",
      "type": "command",
      "command": "extension.commandvariable.file.pickFile",
      "args": {
        "include": "**/*",
        "display": "fileName",
        "description": "Subdirectory to process",
        "showDirs": true,
        "fromFolder": { "fixed": "/some/fixed/dir" }
      }
    }
  ]
}

On Unix like systems you can include the folder in the include glob pattern. On Windows you have to use the fromFolder to convert the directory path to a usable glob pattern. If you have multiple folders you can use the predefined property.