[System.Runtime.Interopservices.Marshal]::ReleaseComObject() causes debugger crashes in latest release

Prerequisites

• I have written a descriptive issue title.
• I have searched all issues to ensure it has not already been reported.
• I have read the troubleshooting guide.
• I have verified that I am using the latest version of Visual Studio Code and the PowerShell extension.

Summary

I’m using PowerShell to automate Excel via COM objects, and did not experience debugger crashes before the update to the latest extension. The debugger crash seems to happen when making calls to [System.Runtime.Interopservices.Marshal]::ReleaseComObject()

I’m unsure of how exactly I can provide a reproduction recipe. I’m open to suggestions.

I can work around the issue for now by not running my scripts in the debugger, but if I had been at an earlier stage of my work, having the debugger crash would have slowed me down a lot.

PowerShell Version

Name                           Value
----                           -----
PSVersion                      5.1.18362.1593
PSEdition                      Desktop
PSCompatibleVersions           {1.0, 2.0, 3.0, 4.0...}
BuildVersion                   10.0.18362.1593
CLRVersion                     4.0.30319.42000
WSManStackVersion              3.0
PSRemotingProtocolVersion      2.3
SerializationVersion           1.1.0.1

Visual Studio Code Version

1.59.0
379476f0e13988d90fab105c5c19e7abc8b1dea8
x64

Extension Version

ms-vscode.powershell@2021.5.1
ms-vscode.powershell@2021.8.0

Steps to Reproduce

    $excel = New-Object -comobject Excel.Application
    $excel.Visible = $true
    $excel.WindowState = "xlMaximized"
    $workbook = $excel.Workbooks.Open($excelFilePath)

    $pictures = @{}
    foreach ($worksheetName in $excelSheetsAndCharts.Keys) {
        $worksheet = $workbook.Worksheets.item($worksheetName)
        $worksheet.Activate()
        Write-Host "Activated Excel Worksheet $worksheetName"
        if ($worksheet.Name -eq "Team Dashboard") {
            Write-Host "Switching to charts with All data in worksheet 'Team Dashboard'"
            $range = $worksheet.Range("J2")
            $range.Value = "All"
        }
        foreach ($chartName in $excelSheetsAndCharts[$worksheetName]) {
            Write-Host "Producing PNG of chart $chartName"
            $chart = $worksheet.ChartObjects($chartName)
            $excel.Goto($chart.TopLeftCell, $true)

            $chartFile = $fullFolderPath + "\$chartName.png"
            $chart.Chart.Export($chartFile, "PNG") > $null
            #$chart.Copy() > $null

            $png = New-Object System.Drawing.Bitmap $chartFile
            $aspectRatio = $png.Height / $png.Width
            $wordPicWidth = 618
            if ($aspectRatio -gt 1) {
                $wordPicWidth = 309
            }
            $wordPicHeight = [int]($wordPicWidth * $aspectRatio)
        
            $picture = [ordered] @{
                Name = $chartName
                File   = $chartFile
                Width  = $wordPicWidth
                Height = $wordPicHeight
            }
            $pictures.Add($chartName, $picture) > $null

            Write-Host "Releasing COM object for: $chartName"
            [System.Runtime.Interopservices.Marshal]::ReleaseComObject($chart) #> $null
            Remove-Variable chart
            Remove-Variable png
        }
        if ($worksheet.Name -eq "VersionProgress") {
            Write-Host "Producing PNG of Forecast cells in worksheet VersionProgress"
            $range = $worksheet.Range("CellsForecast")
            $range.Cells.CopyPicture(1, 2)
            $chart = $worksheet.ChartObjects("ChartForecast")
            #$chart.Chart.Delete() > $null
            $chart.Chart.Paste() > $null
            $excel.Goto($chart.TopLeftCell, $true)
            $chartFile = $fullFolderPath + "\ChartForecast.png"
            $chart.Chart.Export($chartFile, "PNG") > $null

            $png = New-Object System.Drawing.Bitmap $chartFile
            $aspectRatio = $png.Height / $png.Width
            $wordPicWidth = 618
            if ($aspectRatio -gt 1) {
                $wordPicWidth = 309
            }
            $wordPicHeight = [int]($wordPicWidth * $aspectRatio)

            $picture = [ordered] @{
                Name = "ChartForecast"
                File   = $chartFile
                Width  = $wordPicWidth
                Height = $wordPicHeight
            }
            $pictures.Add("ChartForecast", $picture) > $null

            Write-Host "Releasing COM objects for: ChartForecast"
            [System.Runtime.Interopservices.Marshal]::ReleaseComObject($range) #> $null
            [System.Runtime.Interopservices.Marshal]::ReleaseComObject($chart) #> $null
            Remove-Variable chart
            Remove-Variable range
            Remove-Variable png
        }
        if ($worksheet.Name -eq "Team Dashboard") {
            Write-Host "Switching to charts with Bug data in worksheet 'Team Dashboard'"
            $range = $worksheet.Range("J2")
            $range.Value = "Defects"

            foreach ($chartName in $excelSheetsAndCharts[$worksheetName]) {
                Write-Host "Producing PNG of Bugs chart $chartName"
                $chart = $worksheet.ChartObjects($chartName)
                $excel.Goto($chart.TopLeftCell, $true)

                $chartFile = $fullFolderPath + "\Bugs_$($chartName).png"
                $chart.Chart.Export($chartFile, "PNG") > $null
                #$chart.Copy() > $null

                $png = New-Object System.Drawing.Bitmap $chartFile
                $aspectRatio = $png.Height / $png.Width
                $wordPicWidth = 618
                if ($aspectRatio -gt 1) {
                    $wordPicWidth = 309
                }
                $wordPicHeight = [int]($wordPicWidth * $aspectRatio)
        
                $picture = [ordered] @{
                    Name   = ("Bugs_" + $chartName)
                    File   = $chartFile
                    Width  = $wordPicWidth
                    Height = $wordPicHeight
                }
                $pictures.Add(("Bugs_" + $chartName), $picture) > $null

                Write-Host "Releasing COM objects for: $chartName"
                [System.Runtime.Interopservices.Marshal]::ReleaseComObject($range) #> $null
                [System.Runtime.Interopservices.Marshal]::ReleaseComObject($chart) #> $null
                Remove-Variable chart
                Remove-Variable range
                Remove-Variable png
            }
        }
    
        [System.Runtime.Interopservices.Marshal]::ReleaseComObject($worksheet) > $null
    }
    $workbook.Close()
    $excel.Quit()
    [System.Runtime.Interopservices.Marshal]::ReleaseComObject($excel) > $null
    Remove-Variable excel

Visuals

No response

Logs

I’d rather email these. Please let me know when you want them (if you want them).

[andschwa]

Hey, I’m releasing an update to the preview extension probably tomorrow with a lot of debugger stability fixes. I’ll ping you here when it’s available on the marketplace, would love to see if we get lucky and the problem goes away.

[GeekTieGuy]

I’ve been able to work in the debugger much better now. I would consider things good enough now to close this issue, so I’ll just do that.