def show(a,isP):
    #by: D@CC
    #date:    2021FJun26
    #updated: 2022BFeb23
    #
    #  NB beware: the variable name must be in quotes
    #
    # This is a python debugging aide.
    # Often, when debugging, it is very helpful to list the type
    # and value of variables at various stages of execution.
    # Even listing a comment string at crucial points is of help
    # This routine is designed to be turned on/off near the beginning
    # of the program.  If arg2 is 0, no variables will be shown
    # unless an error condition exists (e.g. a variable is not defined).
    # if arg2 is 0, the program will not print any extraneous output.
    # If arg2 is 1, the program will print all debugging information.
    # Of course putting a "#" in front of a show() statement will
    # suppress it.  Note that "continueDoh=0" or "pass" can be 
    # inserted in an empty clause of an IF statement.
    #
    #tested ok
    # stored in /home/pi/Desktop/Python_new/ix_py_test/
    # stored in C:/  . . . /155/
    
    # useful for debugging Python code
    # prints the name of the class of "a", "a" itself and value
    
    # precede by p=0 (at top of code) to suppress showing valid variables
    # it will still do the error checking and report errors
    
    #these all are analysed correctly
    #abcd="a123b"
    #abcd=25
    #abcd=0b110
    #abcd=0x101
    #abcd=25.3
    #abcd=25E5
    #0.1
    #"0.1.2.3"        !doh
    #abcd="-h"
    #blah=["a","b","c"]
    #abcd=True
    #"None"
    #abcd="Null"
    #"-h"
    #"Null"
    #"xyz" when not yet defined

    # eg blah=123
    # p=1     #set p=0 to suppress printing
    # show("blah",p)
    # prints  blah: 123
    # Note without "try" produced system error if variable blah is not defined
    #                  abcd=                25  or "a123b"
    if a=="-h":
        # show help info
        print(' for help show("-h",p)')
        print(' usage: show("varA",p)')
        print(' after p=1; varA=34')
        print(" prints <class 'int'> varA is  34")
        print("   and")
        print(' show("varA",p)')
        print(' after p=0; varA=34')
        print(" prints nothing")
        print("   and")
        print(' show("0.1.9",p)')
        print(' after p=0 or p=1')
        print(" prints  <class 'xxx'> 0.1.9 is 'doh!'")
        print("   and")
        print(' show("blah[1]",p)')
        print(' after p=1, blah=["a","b","c"]')
        print(" prints  <class 'str'> blah[1] is "+'"b"')
        if True:
            print(" only show in final version")
            print("if this fails, copy and use:")
            print("def show(a,isP):")
            print("  vA=eval(a); tA=type(a);")
            print("  if tA in [str]: vA='"'+vA+'"' ")
            print('  print(a+":",tA,vA)')
            print("#def end show")
        #if end
        return True
    else:

        # Normal processing begins here

        aIn=a              #aIn              "abcd" or "abcd"
        #valueA="3.14159"+" thon"
        valueA=a           #valueA is either "abcd" or "abcd"
        #print("valueA:"+valueA)
        try:
            valueEval=eval(a)     # eval(an int) creates
            isValid=True
        except:
            valueEval="Doh!"
            typeVar="<class 'xxx'>"
            isValid=False
        #try end
        
        #debugging info
        #print("isValid:",isValid)
        #print("valueEval:",valueEval)

        valueE=valueEval
        #                  #valueE             25   or "a123b"
        #print("valueE:",valueE)   
        #print("testing str(valueE):"+str(valueE))
        #print("aIn:",aIn)
        #print("type(a):"+str(type(a)))
        #print("str(type(valueE)):"+str(type(valueE)))
        if isValid :
            typeVar=str(type(valueE))
            #print("typeVar"+typeVar)
        #if end

        isPrinted=True 
        if isPrinted==False:
            # help
            continueDoh=0
        #if end
        isOK=False
        #return valueA+": <str> = "+str(35)

        #print("enterring finally")
        isTypeStr=True
        if isTypeStr:
            typeA=type(valueA)
            if (isP==0)==False:
                if typeA in [str]:
                    #print(" "+a+":",typeA,'"'+valueA+'"')
                    continueDoh=0
                else:
                    #print(" "+a+":",typeA,valueA)
                    valueA=aIn
                    #print("Its value is:",aIn)
                #end if
            #normal return is here
            if isP==1 :
                # always show an answer
                areturn = typeVar+' '+aIn+' is "'+str(valueE) + '"'
                print(areturn)
                return
            #if end
            if isP==0 :
                #isP is 0
                # only if error
                if typeVar=="<class 'xxx'>":
                    areturn = typeVar+' '+aIn+' is "'+str(valueE) + '"'
                    print(areturn)
                    return
                else:
                    continueDoh=0
                    return
            #if end
            if isP==2 :
                print("isP:",isP)
            #if end
        else:
            print("not isTypeStr")
            continueDoh=0
        #end if

        print("ERROR show() needs a str as arg1")
        # source: https://stackoverflow.com/questions/9437726/how-to-get-the-value-of-a-variable-given-its-name-in-a-string
        #end if        
        return
    #if end
# works: abcd=25
# works: abcd="a123b"
# stored in G:\BUsByH\2023LDec04\_Fla95S032G\pi\Desktop\Python\PiIX\show_py.py
#end def show()