Changing Class Types in C++

TotalView tries to display the correct data when you change the type of a Variable Window to move up or down the derivation hierarchy.

If a change in the data type also requires a change in the address of the data being displayed, TotalView asks you about changing the address. For example, if you edit the type field in class c shown in the following figure to class e, TotalView displays the following dialog box:

C++ Type Cast to Base Class Dialog Box

Selecting Yes tells TotalView to change the address to ensure that it displays the correct base class member. Selecting No tells TotalView to display the memory area as if it were an instance of the type to which it is being cast, leaving the address unchanged.

Similarly, if you change a data type in the Variable Window so you can cast a base class to a derived class, and that change requires an address change, the debugger asks you to confirm the operation. For example,the following figure shows the dialog posted if you cast from class e to class c:

C++ Type Cast to Derived Class Dialog Box