Char array should be shown as string, not as nornal array

[IanChen83]

Just moved this issue from vscode

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• Cpptools Version: 0.8.1
• VSCode Version: 1.3.1
• OS Version: Linux 4.7.1

As title, character array is shown as a normal array everywhere in debugging mode, which can be annoying when watching on a very long string.

Ideally, it should be shown as what gdb would print

[pieandcakes]

@PatrickChen83 We have enabled gdb pretty printers by default in new launch.json files in our 0.9.2 release. Please try it and see if this resolves your issue.

[DanOlivier]

I'm not sure why this was closed. The pretty printer is on, and yet the variable is displayed as a char array, but the point is that it should be coerced into a string (from char[] to char*). This definitely degrades the user experience.
Ideally, we would have an example of a custom gdb-python program that overrides the printing for designated structures with embedded char[] members (similar to what is done for libstdc++ types). This plugin would need to be sourced at the start of the debug session.
I would do this myself (and may yet), but it's tricky to nail down the syntax.

[pieandcakes]

@DanOlivier This is probably an external feature as we don't control/install gdb. If you want to modify gdb-python and contribute that visualization back to gdb or share it here with people in the documentation section, it would be helpful.

We also allow users to change visualization through the use of .natvis files.

[gggin]

@pieandcakes is .natvis supported for all platform vscode?

[pieandcakes]

@gggin yes, we support a limited implementation for .natvis for all supported platforms using this extension.

[zhangjp0405]

this problem is solved? I also have this problem. can you say a method?