The Execution preferences pane collects a number of options having to do with Script Debugger’s behavior when running and debugging scripts.

Execution Options:

Pause script when external debugging begins

If checked, then when external debugging starts (that is, a script saved in debug mode starts to run in some other context), Script Debugger will pause before the first executable line of the script.

Restore active application when stepping/continuing

If checked, then when you resume execution after a pause, the application that was active before the pause is brought to the front (unless the script is being controlled from Script Debugger’s Dock menu).

Show expression tooltips

If checked, then when you hover the mouse over text in a script window, the AppleScript expression under the mouse will be evaluated and its value shown in a tooltip. In some cases, it will help to select the desired expression first and then hover the mouse over it.

For your safety, Script Debugger prevents evaluation of an expression if evaluating it takes a long time or might have major side effects like deleting or altering an object (such an expression will generate no tooltip).

Tooltip delay

The delay between the time when the mouse hovers over an AppleScript expression and the time when the expression is evaluated.

Show only while debugging

If checked, then these tooltips appear only when the script is paused in debug mode.

Include tell context

If checked, then if there is a tell context, it is included at the start of the tooltip (as in the illustration — if this option were not checked, everything up to the colon would be absent).

Bring Script Debugger to foreground when scripts pause

If checked, then when pausing in debug mode, Script Debugger comes to the front.

Bring Script Debugger to foreground when scripts end

If checked, then any time a script finishes executing, Script Debugger comes to the front (unless the script is being controlled from Script Debugger’s Dock menu).

Show result when scripts pause or end:

The question here is what should happen with regard to the display of the result when a result is produced (unless the result is already visible).

The choices are:

No

Nothing happens.

Show Result Inspector

The result pane appears (along with the variables pane and so on).

Show Result Bar

The result bar appears.

Show Result Explorer Window

The result is shown as a separate explorer window.

Hide Event Log windows on deactivate

If checked, event log windows are hidden when Script Debugger is in the background.

Hide Explorer windows on deactivate

If checked, explorer windows are hidden when Script Debugger is in the background.

Script Error Actions:

Bring Script Debugger to foreground

If checked, then Script Debugger comes to the front when it puts up a runtime error dialog. Otherwise, Script Debugger bounces the notification icon in the Dock.

Beep

If checked, then Script Debugger beeps when it puts up a runtime error dialog.