Monitoring MTS Transactions

You can administer transactions in MTS applications by using the transaction windows in the MTS Explorer. The Trace Message, Transaction Statistics, and Transaction List windows provide valuable information about the status of transactions managed by the Microsoft Distributed Transaction Coordinator (MS DTC).

You can use the Transaction List window to resolve transaction states. For more information, see the Resolving MTS Transactions topic.

To monitor transactions using the Transaction List

In the left pane of the MTS Explorer, select the computer that is hosting the transactions.
Double-click the Transaction List icon.
Right-click anywhere in the right pane, and point to the View command on the shortcut menu.
On the View submenu, click one of the following:
- Large Icon
  Displays transactions as large icons.
- Small Icon
  Displays transactions as small icons.
- Properties
  Lists transactions in a single column and provides a column that contains the unit-of-work ID associated with each transaction. This is the transaction's global unique identifier, and is generated by MS DTC when the transaction begins. Also listed are the parent and subordinate transactions.
- List
  Displays transactions sequentially in a column.

Note The Small Icon and List commands display the most transactions at any one time. Properties provides the most information about the transactions, and Large Icon displays transactions in the most readable format.

To view transaction statistics

In the left pane of the MTS Explorer, select the computer where you want to view transaction statistics.
Double-click the Transaction Statistics icon.

To view trace messages

In the left pane of the MTS Explorer, select the computer that is hosting the transactions.
Double-click the Trace Messages icon.

The MS DTC Transaction Statistics window is displayed in the right pane.

Transaction Properties

You can view transaction properties by selecting the Properties command after right-clicking a selected transaction. The Properties command lists all transaction managers that are involved in the transaction. For a child transaction, the Properties command lists the immediate parent of transactions. If the transaction is a parent transaction, then the immediate child transaction(s) are listed.