How to monitor variables not using the serial?

@rval1945: I think you can find the info you're looking for in the preferences.txt file. Go to File --> Preferences and at the bottom is the link to the location of your preferences file. In there, you will find something like:

serial.databits=8
serial.debug_rate=115200
serial.parity=N
serial.port=COM2
serial.port.file=COM2
serial.stopbits=1

See if that's what you need.