Error when using a conditional breakpoint on System.Type

Question

This is the function:

public void Init(System.Type Type) {
    this.Type = Type;
    BuildFieldAttributes();
    BuildDataColumns(FieldAttributes);
}

I've set a breakpoint on the first line (this.Type = Type) and I want to break when Type.FullName == "Malt.Organisation" so that's what I've entered in as the condition.

However the following error is displayed when the line is hit:

The condition for a breakpoint failed to execute. The condition was 'Type.FullName == "Malt.Organisation"'. The error returned was 'Inspecting the state of an object in the debuggee of type System.Type is not supported in this context.'

What (obvious) thing am I doing wrong?

PS. A workaround is to add this to the code:

if (Type.FullName == "Malt.Organisation") System.Diagnostics.Debugger.Break();

Answer 1

In my case I was using Visual Studio 2013, NUnit 2.6.4, and attaching a debugger to a unit test session, and I was getting a similar message:

The condition for a breakpoint failed to execute. The condition was 'type.Name.Contains("FooBar")'. The error returned was 'Inspecting the state of an object in the debuggee of type System.Type is not supported in this context.'. Click OK to stop at this breakpoint.

This was caused by a missing feature in the new debug engine Microsoft had introduced, apparently. Following instructions from this msdn blogpost I got things to work. The instructions boil down to:

1. From the "Tools" menu open "Options"
2. On the left hand side pick "Debugging", "General"
3. Scroll all the way down to check "Use Managed Compatibility Mode"

This should switch to the legacy debug engine, which in my case allowed for expressions on Type in break point conditions. Note that you do need to restart your app or debugging session, obviously.

Disclaimer: I have no idea what other effects checking this option had. Personally, I turned it back off when I was done with the task that required it...