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Microsoft Visual Studio 2008/.NET Framework 3.5

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.NET Framework Class Library
System.Diagnostics Namespace

The System.Diagnostics namespace provides classes that allow you to interact with system processes, event logs, and performance counters.

  • The EventLog component provides functionality to write to event logs, read event log entries, and create and delete event logs and event sources on the network. The EntryWrittenEventHandler provides a way to interact with event logs asynchronously. Supporting classes provide access to more detailed control, including: permission restrictions, the ability to specify event log types (which controls the type of default data that is written with an event log entry), and iterate through collections of event log entries. For more information about these tasks, see the EventLogPermission, EventLogEntryType, and EventLogEntryCollection classes.

  • The Process class provides functionality to monitor system processes across the network, and to start and stop local system processes. In addition to retrieving lists of running processes (by specifying either the computer, the process name, or the process id) or viewing information about the process that currently has access to the processor, you can get detailed knowledge of process threads and modules both through the Process class itself, and by interacting with the ProcessThread and ProcessModule classes. The ProcessStartInfo class enables you to specify a variety of elements with which to start a new process, such as input, output, and error streams, working directories, and command line verbs and arguments. These give you fine control over the behavior of your processes. Other related classes let you specify window styles, process and thread priorities, and interact with collections of threads and modules.

  • The PerformanceCounter class enables you to monitor system performance, while the PerformanceCounterCategory class provides a way to create new custom counters and categories. You can write to local custom counters and read from both local and remote counters (system as well as custom). You can sample counters using the PerformanceCounter class, and calculate results from successive performance counter samples using the CounterSample class. The CounterCreationData class enables you to create multiple counters in a category and specify their types. Other classes associated with the performance counter component provide access to collections of counters, counter permission, and counter types.

The System.Diagnostics namespace also provides classes that allow you to debug your application and to trace the execution of your code. For more information, see the Trace and Debug classes.

  ClassDescription
BooleanSwitchProvides a simple on/off switch that controls debugging and tracing output.
ConditionalAttributeIndicates to compilers that a method call or attribute should be ignored unless a specified conditional compilation symbol is defined.
ConsoleTraceListenerDirects tracing or debugging output to either the standard output or the standard error stream.
CorrelationManagerCorrelates traces that are part of a logical transaction.
CounterCreationDataDefines the counter type, name, and Help string for a custom counter.
CounterCreationDataCollectionProvides a strongly typed collection of CounterCreationData objects.
CounterSampleCalculatorProvides a set of utility functions for interpreting performance counter data.
DataReceivedEventArgsProvides data for the OutputDataReceived and ErrorDataReceived events.
DebugProvides a set of methods and properties that help debug your code. This class cannot be inherited.
DebuggableAttributeModifies code generation for runtime just-in-time (JIT) debugging. This class cannot be inherited.
DebuggerEnables communication with a debugger. This class cannot be inherited.
DebuggerBrowsableAttributeDetermines if and how a member is displayed in the debugger variable windows. This class cannot be inherited.
DebuggerDisplayAttributeDetermines how a class or field is displayed in the debugger variable windows.
DebuggerHiddenAttributeSpecifies the DebuggerHiddenAttribute. This class cannot be inherited.
DebuggerNonUserCodeAttributeIdentifies a type or member that is not part of the user code for an application.
DebuggerStepperBoundaryAttributeIndicates the code following the attribute is to be executed in run, not step, mode.
DebuggerStepThroughAttributeSpecifies the DebuggerStepThroughAttribute. This class cannot be inherited.
DebuggerTypeProxyAttributeSpecifies the display proxy for a type.
DebuggerVisualizerAttributeSpecifies that the type has a visualizer. This class cannot be inherited.
DefaultTraceListenerProvides the default output methods and behavior for tracing.
DelimitedListTraceListenerDirects tracing or debugging output to a text writer, such as a stream writer, or to a stream, such as a file stream.
DiagnosticsConfigurationHandlerInfrastructure. Obsolete. Handles the diagnostics section of configuration files.
EntryWrittenEventArgsProvides data for the EntryWritten event.
EventInstanceRepresents language-neutral information for an event log entry.
EventLogProvides interaction with Windows event logs.
EventLogEntryEncapsulates a single record in the event log. This class cannot be inherited.
EventLogEntryCollectionDefines size and enumerators for a collection of EventLogEntry instances.
EventLogInstallerAllows you to install and configure an event log that your application reads from or writes to when running.
EventLogPermissionAllows control of code access permissions for event logging.
EventLogPermissionAttributeAllows declaritive permission checks for event logging.
EventLogPermissionEntryDefines the smallest unit of a code access security permission that is set for an EventLog.
EventLogPermissionEntryCollectionContains a strongly typed collection of EventLogPermissionEntry objects.
EventLogTraceListenerProvides a simple listener that directs tracing or debugging output to an EventLog.
EventSchemaTraceListenerDirects tracing or debugging output of end-to-end events to an XML-encoded, schema-compliant log file.
EventSourceCreationDataRepresents the configuration settings used to create an event log source on the local computer or a remote computer.
EventTypeFilterIndicates whether a listener should trace based on the event type.
FileVersionInfoProvides version information for a physical file on disk.
InstanceDataHolds instance data associated with a performance counter sample.
InstanceDataCollectionProvides a strongly typed collection of InstanceData objects.
InstanceDataCollectionCollectionProvides a strongly typed collection of InstanceDataCollection objects.
MonitoringDescriptionAttributeSpecifies a description for a property or event.
PerformanceCounterRepresents a Windows NT performance counter component.
PerformanceCounterCategoryRepresents a performance object, which defines a category of performance counters.
PerformanceCounterInstallerSpecifies an installer for the PerformanceCounter component.
PerformanceCounterManagerInfrastructure. Obsolete. Prepares performance data for the performance.dll the system loads when working with performance counters.
PerformanceCounterPermissionAllows control of code access permissions for PerformanceCounter.
PerformanceCounterPermissionAttributeAllows declaritive performance counter permission checks.
PerformanceCounterPermissionEntryDefines the smallest unit of a code access security permission that is set for a PerformanceCounter.
PerformanceCounterPermissionEntryCollectionContains a strongly typed collection of PerformanceCounterPermissionEntry objects.
PresentationTraceSourcesProvides debug tracing support that is specifically targeted for Windows Presentation Foundation (WPF) applications. This is an abstract class.
ProcessProvides access to local and remote processes and enables you to start and stop local system processes.
ProcessModuleRepresents a.dll or .exe file that is loaded into a particular process.
ProcessModuleCollectionProvides a strongly typed collection of ProcessModule objects.
ProcessStartInfoSpecifies a set of values that are used when you start a process.
ProcessThreadRepresents an operating system process thread.
ProcessThreadCollectionProvides a strongly typed collection of ProcessThread objects.
SourceFilterIndicates whether a listener should trace a message based on the source of a trace.
SourceSwitchProvides a multilevel switch to control tracing and debug output without recompiling your code.
StackFrameProvides information about a StackFrame, which represents a function call on the call stack for the current thread.
StackTraceRepresents a stack trace, which is an ordered collection of one or more stack frames.
StopwatchProvides a set of methods and properties that you can use to accurately measure elapsed time.
SwitchProvides an abstract base class to create new debugging and tracing switches.
SwitchAttributeIdentifies a switch used in an assembly, class, or member.
SwitchLevelAttributeIdentifies the level type for a switch.
TextWriterTraceListenerDirects tracing or debugging output to a TextWriter or to a Stream, such as FileStream.
TraceProvides a set of methods and properties that help you trace the execution of your code. This class cannot be inherited.
TraceEventCacheProvides trace event data specific to a thread and a process.
TraceFilterProvides the base class for trace filter implementations.
TraceListenerProvides the abstract base class for the listeners who monitor trace and debug output.
TraceListenerCollectionProvides a thread-safe list of TraceListener objects.
TraceSourceProvides a set of methods and properties that enable applications to trace the execution of code and associate trace messages with their source.
TraceSwitchProvides a multilevel switch to control tracing and debug output without recompiling your code.
UnescapedXmlDiagnosticDataProvides unescaped XML data for the logging of user-provided trace data.
XmlWriterTraceListenerDirects tracing or debugging output as XML-encoded data to a TextWriter or to a Stream, such as a FileStream.
  StructureDescription
CounterSampleDefines a structure that holds the raw data for a performance counter.
  InterfaceDescription
ICollectDataInfrastructure. Prepares performance data for the performance DLL the system loads when working with performance counters.
  DelegateDescription
DataReceivedEventHandlerRepresents the method that will handle the OutputDataReceived event or ErrorDataReceived event of a Process.
EntryWrittenEventHandlerRepresents the method that will handle the EntryWritten event of an EventLog.
  EnumerationDescription
DebuggableAttribute..::.DebuggingModesSpecifies the debugging mode for the just-in-time (JIT) compiler.
DebuggerBrowsableStateProvides display instructions for the debugger.
EventLogEntryTypeSpecifies the event type of an event log entry.
EventLogPermissionAccessDefines access levels used by EventLog permission classes.
OverflowActionSpecifies how to handle entries in an event log that has reached its maximum file size.
PerformanceCounterCategoryTypeIndicates whether the performance counter category can have multiple instances.
PerformanceCounterInstanceLifetimeSpecifies the lifetime of a performance counter instance.
PerformanceCounterPermissionAccessDefines access levels used by PerformanceCounter permission classes.
PerformanceCounterTypeSpecifies the formula used to calculate the NextValue method for a PerformanceCounter instance.
PresentationTraceLevelDescribes the level of detail to trace about a particular object.
ProcessPriorityClassIndicates the priority that the system associates with a process. This value, together with the priority value of each thread of the process, determines each thread's base priority level.
ProcessWindowStyleSpecified how a new window should appear when the system starts a process.
SourceLevelsSpecifies the levels of trace messages filtered by the source switch and event type filter.
ThreadPriorityLevelSpecifies the priority level of a thread.
ThreadStateSpecifies the current execution state of the thread.
ThreadWaitReasonSpecifies the reason a thread is waiting.
TraceEventTypeIdentifies the type of event that has caused the trace.
TraceLevelSpecifies what messages to output for the Debug, Trace and TraceSwitch classes.
TraceLogRetentionOptionSpecifies the file structure that will be used for the EventSchemaTraceListener log.
TraceOptionsSpecifies trace data options to be written to the trace output.
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