# Evaluating Data Values

Using the Expression Evaluation window, you can evaluate an expression that is within the scope of the method you are stopped in. An expression has a value when it is within the scope of the current location on the call stack.

You can use either the Expression Evaluation window or the Threads/Stack window to get the value of an expression. If you want to track the changes in a variable as the program progresses, use the Threads/Stack window.

To evaluate an expression:

1. Choose Debug -> Evaluate.
2. Type the expression you want to evaluate in the Expression box.
3. Click Evaluate.

JDE prints the expression and its value in the Debug tab, below the source editor window.

When evaluating an expression, JDE does not distinguish package names from expression names. Consider the strings `java.io.File.separator` and `myObj.myMember.myString`. JDE does not recognize that `java.io.File` is a package name and that `myObj.myMember` is a member of an object. In all cases, the debugger treats package names as members of objects.

See also:

  Evaluating Expressions
  Threads/Stack Overview