How to do System/Update/tRFC debugging in new ABAP debugger?

In case you there is a need to debug some features of SAP ABAP NetWeaver platform like system, update or tRFC debugging it needs to be specifically activated to do so. Normally while a developer enters the ABAP debugger in its menu there were options to activate those kinds of debugging. However, in the newer releases of the SAP ABAP NetWeaver platform those settings are not right there in the menu. They are available under a new umbrella menu called Change Debugger Profile/Settings under Settings menu of the ABAP debugger.

Once you choose this menu, following pop-up is displayed where you can choose the type of the debugging you want to do:

I got used to do an update tasks debugging directly selecting it from the Debugger’s menu. After some time not using it I got confused that this settings was moved to the separate pop up and it took me a little while to find where the activation of update debugging is :-)

Switching between a Standard (New) Debugger & (Old) Classic Debugger

A New ABAP Debugger was introduced in Release 6.40. Since that there was a change in its name. Thus the “NEW” name became obsolete. The New Debugger is called just Standard ABAP Debugger. Similarly, the Old ABAP Debugger is called Classic Debugger.

Normally when you start to use the debugger system jumps to the Standard ABAP Debugger right away. There is no possibility to set the Classic Debugger as default debugger in ABAP Workbench settings (t-code SE80 or SE38 -> Utilities -> Settings) anymore. Thus by default the debugger starts as a Standard one. However, if there is a necessity to use the old one it is still possible.

Once you enter the Standard Debugger via following value that is entered into t-code field (so called “ok-code”) the debugger switches to Classic one:

 

/hset debugger=classic

 

Similarly to switch to Standard one:

 

/hset debugger=standard

 

Switching the default debugger using above ok-codes is valid for the current logon session only. After the re-logging to SAP GUI it won’t be valid anymore.