CCS questions

I think I'll post my CCS questions here under one thread, to avoid flooding the list.

(I am using CCSv6)

Q1.  given a char* p, is there a way to evaluate it as a string? I.e. to see all its characters? The best I've come up with is 1) to use memory, and 2) to see it as an array; both have deficiencies in that they allow to see either only char or only in at a time.

Q2. How do I disable optimization?

Thank you