The Registers processor view enables you to examine the value of any of the registers in a specific processor. It also enables you to change any of these values, unless you are debugging an Angel target when you can change the registers of the current mode only.

Ensure that the required processor is selected in the Control processor view before you display a Registers processor view. Each Registers processor view shows its processor name near the top left corner.

A typical Registers processor view is shown in Figure 5.22.

Figure 5.22. Registers processor view

The registers are shown in named groups, to reflect the typical grouping of registers into banks. Click on the + or – boxes to expand or collapse each level of the displayed tree structure, but see Viewing structured data.

The crossed-out eye symbol is not usually present. It is displayed if you try to refresh the display of register values while the program is running, with timed refresh enabled for example, and reminds you that this is not possible. Only the Memory processor view can show values changing while the program is running.

Double-click on the value of any register that you want to change. In-place editing is invoked whenever possible, otherwise a dialog is displayed. Double-clicking on the value of a Program Status Register (PSR), for example, displays the dialog shown in Figure 5.23.

Figure 5.23. Program Status Register dialog

ARM processors that have an extra bit (Q, signifying saturation) in the program status register require an Enhanced PSR (EPSR) format. This displays the extra bit in the Registers processor view, and editing the value of that register displays the dialog shown in Figure 5.24.

Figure 5.24. Enhanced Program Status Register dialog

ARM processors that are Jazelle-capable have an extra bit (J, signifying Jazelle state) in the program status register and require a Jazelle PSR (JPSR) format. This displays the extra bit in the Registers processor view, and editing the value of that register displays the dialog shown in Figure 5.25.

Figure 5.25. Jazelle Program Status Register dialog

Whenever AXD can determine the most suitable format for displaying a program status register, it does so automatically. If AXD is unable to determine the most suitable format, EPSR is used by default. To change the display format for a program status register, select one from the Registers submenu of the Format menu item in the Registers processor view pop-up menu.

For more information about data display formats and data entry formats, see Data formatting.

To add one of the registers displayed in a Registers processor view to the Registers system view (see Registers system view), right-click on the required register to select it and display the pop-up menu, then select Add to System (see Registers processor view pop-up menu).

Registers processor view pop-up menu

To display the Registers pop-up menu, shown in Figure 5.26, right-click within the Registers processor view.

Figure 5.26. Registers processor view pop-up menu

The Add To System, Format, and Locate Using Value menu items are enabled only when you right-click on a selectable item in the processor view, and then they apply to the selected item only.

Format

Select Format to see a list of all the available formats in which you can display the item currently selected in the Registers processor view, as shown in Figure 5.27.

Figure 5.27. Formats available for displaying registers

See Data formatting for details of the formats available.

Locate Using Value

The Locate Using Value menu item functions as described in Watch processor view pop-up menu.

Refresh

Select Refresh to update and recalculate the displayed data values. A Registers processor view cannot be refreshed while an image is executing. This item is useful if the target supports RealMonitor. See also Refresh All.

Properties...

Select Properties... to display the Default Display Options dialog shown in Figure 5.28.

Figure 5.28. Default Display Options dialog

With this dialog you control the default display format, and choose whether any change you make applies to all the displayed data items or to only those that currently use the default format. Click the Help button in the dialog to display more information.

If you hide a Registers processor view then later select it again, it reappears in the state it was in when you hid it.

If you close a Registers processor view then later select it again, it is displayed as though you are selecting it for the first time.