Using the P/T Set Browser

There's no question that specifying P/T sets can be confusing. As has been mentioned, there are few programs that need all the power that TotalView's P/T set syntax provides. In all cases, however, the ability to previsualize what the contents of a P/T set will be before you execute the command is essential. This is what the P/T Set Browser is designed to do. The browser, which is accessed from the Root Window's Tool menu, shows the current state of processes and threads as well as show what is or will be selected when you specify a P/T set. The following figure shows a P/T browser displaying information about a a multiprocess, multithreaded program.  

A P/T Set Browser Window

The top part of this window contains the standard P/T set controls. (See Using P/T Set Controls for more information.) The large area on the left is a "tree" control where clicking on the "+" shows more information, and clicking on a "-" (not shown in this figure) condenses the information. Here you will find a list of all your program's processes and threads. The information is organized in a hierarchy, with the outermost level being your program's control groups. In a control group, information is further organized by share group, where you are shown the processes contained in a share group. Finally, if the innermost "+" symbols were clicked, the browser would show information on the threads within a process.

The control and share group numbers displayed in this window are the same as those that are displayed in the Groups Page in the Root Window.

The right-hand side contains a graphical depiction of your program's threads. In the preceding figure, notice that TotalView has highlighted some of the threads. These are the threads in the current focus, which in this case is "1.<". As you make changes to the P/T set, the threads highlighted in the right-hand side change, showing you what the scope of a P/T set definition is. The next figures contains a variety of P/T set examples.  

P/T Set Browser Windows (Part 1)

  

P/T Set Browser Windows (Part 2)

1

This P/T set displayed differs from the one in the previous figure in that the Focus pulldown menu is now set to All. TotalView responds by highlighting all threads on the right-hand side.

2

The Focus pulldown menu was changed back to Process but the number of processes was limited to 1, 2, and 3. Before these changes were made, process 3 was told to go. As you can see, the browser shows those processes as running.

3

Thread 3.1 was halted.

4

Thread 2.4 was selected with the mouse. It doesn't matter if it was selected in the left or right-hand sides, as selecting it causes it to be highlighted in both. After selecting a thread, you can extend the selection by clicking your mouse's left button on another thread while holding down the Shift key. You can select noncontiguous threads by holding down the Control key while clicking your mouse's left button.

If you are seeing this document online, you'll notice that your selection is in gray while the selection indicating the P/T set is in blue.

5

The P/T set information was modified to show a difference expression; in this case, thread 1.3 was eliminated from the set of threads named by "p1.<".

The elements on the right side are drawn within two boxes. These boxes represent the control and share groups. Clicking on them tells the browser to select that group.