---
title: QuickWatch Dialog Box
description: Learn how to use the QuickWatch dialog box as you debug code, to quickly view the data type and value of one Transact-SQL expression (such as a variable). 
titleSuffix: T-SQL debugger
ms.prod: sql
ms.technology: ssms
ms.topic: conceptual
f1_keywords: 
  - "vs.debug.quickwatch"
helpviewer_keywords: 
  - "QuickWatch Dialog [Transact-SQL]"
ms.assetid: d6bbb373-1452-41f2-bdc5-86ae689c3dc0
author: markingmyname
ms.author: maghan
ms.reviewer: ""
ms.custom: seo-lt-2019
ms.date: 12/04/2019
monikerRange: ">=aps-pdw-2016||=azuresqldb-current||=azure-sqldw-latest||>=sql-server-2016||>=sql-server-linux-2017||=azuresqldb-mi-current"

---

# Transact-SQL Debugger - QuickWatch Dialog Box

 [!INCLUDE [SQL Server](../../includes/applies-to-version/sqlserver.md)]

Use the **QuickWatch** dialog box to quickly view the data type and value of one [!INCLUDE[tsql](../../includes/tsql-md.md)] expression, such as a variable or parameter, when you are debugging [!INCLUDE[tsql](../../includes/tsql-md.md)] code. To watch multiple expressions, you can also add the expression to a **Watch** window.  

[!INCLUDE[ssms-old-versions](../../includes/ssms-old-versions.md)]

## Task List

 **To access the QuickWatch dialog box**  
  
-   On the **Debug** menu, click **QuickWatch**.  
  
 **To view the information about an expression**  
  
1.  In the **Expression** list box, type or select the expression that you want. The following [!INCLUDE[tsql](../../includes/tsql-md.md)] expressions are supported:  
  
    -   Variables.  
  
    -   Parameters.  
  
    -   System functions whose name starts with @@.  
  
    -   Expressions built by applying operators to one or more variables, parameters, or system functions, such as @IntegerCounter + 1, or FirstName + LastName.  
  
    -   Transact-SQL statements that return a single value, such as: SELECT CharacterCol FROM MyTable WHERE PrimaryKey = 1.  
  
2.  Click **Reevaluate**.  
  
 **To add the QuickWatch expression to a Watch window**  
  
-   Click **Add Watch**.  
  
 **To change the value of the QuickWatch expression**  
  
-   Right-click the expression, and then select **Edit Value**.  
  
## Options  
 **Expression list**  
 Displays the currently selected expression. The drop-down list contains a set of expressions that you can select to display. The expressions in the list are those available in the scope of the stack frame that is currently selected in the **Call Stack** window. To display a different expression, either enter the expression or select it from list. The [!INCLUDE[tsql](../../includes/tsql-md.md)] debugger supports the following expressions: variables, parameters, and the system functions that have names that start with @@.  
  
 **Value grid**  
 Displays the properties of the expression that is currently being watched.  
  
 **Name**  
 Is the [!INCLUDE[tsql](../../includes/tsql-md.md)] expression being watched.  
  
 **Value**  
 Displays the value that is currently assigned to the expression. A blank is displayed when the expression currently has no value.  
  
 If the length of an expression is larger than the width of the **Value** column, a tooltip displays the full value when you move the pointer over the **Value** cell for that expression.  
  
 A magnifying glass icon in a **Value** cell indicates that the [!INCLUDE[tsql](../../includes/tsql-md.md)] debugger visualizer is available. In the list, you can specify **Text Visualizer**, **XML Visualizer**, or **HTML Visualizer**. To start a debugger visualizer, click the magnifying glass icon. The [!INCLUDE[tsql](../../includes/tsql-md.md)] debugger opens a dialog box that displays the data in a format appropriate to the data type.  
  
 **Type**  
 Displays the data type of the expression.  
  
## See Also  
 [Transact-SQL Debugger](./transact-sql-debugger.md)   
 [Transact-SQL Debugger Information](./transact-sql-debugger-information.md)   
 [Watch Window](./transact-sql-debugger-watch-window.md)   
 [Locals Window](./transact-sql-debugger-locals-window.md)   
 [Call Stack Window](./transact-sql-debugger-call-stack-window.md)   
 [Expressions (Transact-SQL)](../../t-sql/language-elements/expressions-transact-sql.md)