Stepping Through a Project in VEXcode VR

The Project Stepping feature provides the user with important visual cues that help troubleshoot or better understand a project's flow. When a project is run, the VR Robot will run as instructed, but it may not be how the user intended. Having the ability to see the blocks being executed one step at a time gives the user a better visual of which blocks may be causing the error.


How to Use the Project Stepping Feature

Screenshot of VEXcode VR tutorial interface, showcasing a block-based coding environment with various coding blocks and a virtual robot, designed to help users learn programming concepts in a simulated setting.

Select the step button located at the top right of the VEXcode VR toolbar.

Illustration of a VEXcode VR robot moving forward, demonstrating coding concepts in a virtual environment for educational purposes in STEM learning.

Once selected, a green highlight will appear around the “when started“ block to indicate where the program is beginning, and then immediately moves to highlight the first block in the stack. The highlight will stay on the first block after “when started” until the step button is selected again.

Illustration of a robot turning right in VEXcode VR, demonstrating coding concepts in a virtual environment for educational purposes.

Select the step button again to run the block that is highlighted. Once the block has been executed, the next block will become highlighted.

Continue to use the step button to run through the project one block at a time.


Debugging with the Project Stepping Feature

Screenshot of VEXcode VR tutorial interface, showcasing block-based and text-based coding options for programming a virtual robot, designed to support STEM education and coding concepts for students and educators.

The Project Stepping feature slows down the flow of the project and provides immediate visual feedback. This allows the user to go through the project one block at a time to observe behavior and correct mistakes.

In this example, the intention is for the VR Robot to draw a square (drive forward for 800mm and turn right 90 degrees, 4 times to create a square). However there is a wrong turn in the project.

Screenshot from VEXcode VR tutorial showing an error message with a virtual robot, illustrating a coding mistake and how to troubleshoot it in the programming environment.

Screenshot of VEXcode VR interface showing a block-based coding environment for programming a virtual robot, illustrating features for beginners and advanced users in a tutorial context.

Run the project step by step using the Project Stepping feature until a mistake is observed.

Screenshot of VEXcode VR tutorial interface, showcasing block-based and text-based coding options for programming a virtual robot, designed to support STEM education and coding concepts for students and educators.

Screenshot of VEXcode VR tutorial interface, showcasing block-based and text-based coding options for programming a virtual robot, designed to support STEM education and coding concepts for students and educators.

Correct the mistake.

Green right turn arrow icon used in VEXcode VR tutorials, representing the action of turning right in programming a virtual robot.

Screenshot of the VEXcode VR programming interface, showcasing the block-based coding environment designed for teaching coding concepts through a virtual robot, with options for both beginners and advanced users.

Then run the project again from the beginning using the Project Stepping feature. Repeat this process until the project runs correctly.

For more information, help, and tips, check out the many resources at VEX Professional Development Plus

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