An evaluation evaluation tells the value of the variable at the current time. If you want to track the changes in a value as the program progresses, use the Threads/Stack tab.
To evaluate a variable:
A variable has a value when it is within the scope of the current location on the call stack.
For example, to evaluate the variable maxsize in the package mypkg.Shapes, you would type mypkg.Shapes.maxsize.
The WorkShop prints the variable and its value in the scrolling list. Objects are marked with the glyph. When you click this glyph, the object or array expands to show all embedded variables. You can repeat this action on nested objects. To contract an object or array, click the glyph a second time.
If the list of evaluated variables becomes too long, you can clear it out using the Clear List button on the Variables tab.
Note
When evaluating a variable, the Java WorkShop does not distinguish package names from variable names. Consider the strings java.io.File.separator and myObj.myMember.myString. The WorkShop does not distinguish 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: