diff --git a/java/debugger/impl/src/com/intellij/debugger/actions/BaseValueAction.java b/java/debugger/impl/src/com/intellij/debugger/actions/BaseValueAction.java
index 6b5984cc84ab..bd0373a5c439 100644
--- a/java/debugger/impl/src/com/intellij/debugger/actions/BaseValueAction.java
+++ b/java/debugger/impl/src/com/intellij/debugger/actions/BaseValueAction.java
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ import com.intellij.debugger.impl.DebuggerContextImpl;
 import com.intellij.debugger.impl.DebuggerUtilsEx;
 import com.intellij.debugger.ui.impl.watch.DebuggerTreeNodeImpl;
 import com.intellij.debugger.ui.impl.watch.NodeDescriptorImpl;
-import com.intellij.debugger.ui.impl.watch.ValueDescriptorImpl;
+import com.intellij.debugger.ui.tree.ValueDescriptor;
 import com.intellij.openapi.actionSystem.AnActionEvent;
 import com.intellij.openapi.actionSystem.DataContext;
 import com.intellij.openapi.actionSystem.PlatformDataKeys;
@@ -41,69 +41,73 @@ import org.jetbrains.annotations.Nullable;
  * @author Jeka
  */
 public abstract class BaseValueAction extends DebuggerAction {
+
   public void actionPerformed(AnActionEvent e) {
     final DataContext actionContext = e.getDataContext();
-    final Project project = PlatformDataKeys.PROJECT.getData(actionContext);
-    final Value value = getValue(actionContext);
+    final DebuggerTreeNodeImpl node = getSelectedNode(actionContext);
+    final Value value = getValue(node);
     if (value == null) {
       return;
     }
-
-    DebuggerManagerEx debuggerManager = DebuggerManagerEx.getInstanceEx(project);
-    if(debuggerManager != null) {
-      final DebuggerContextImpl debuggerContext = debuggerManager.getContext();
-
-      if(debuggerContext != null && debuggerContext.getDebuggerSession() != null) {
-        final ProgressWindowWithNotification progressWindow = new ProgressWindowWithNotification(true, project);
-        SuspendContextCommandImpl copyValueAction = new SuspendContextCommandImpl(debuggerContext.getSuspendContext()) {
-          public Priority getPriority() {
-            return Priority.HIGH;
-          }
-
-          public void contextAction() throws Exception {
-            //noinspection HardCodedStringLiteral
-            progressWindow.setText(DebuggerBundle.message("progress.evaluating", "toString()"));
-
-            final String valueAsString = DebuggerUtilsEx.getValueOrErrorAsString(debuggerContext.createEvaluationContext(), value);
-
-            if (progressWindow.isCanceled()) return;
-
-            DebuggerInvocationUtil.swingInvokeLater(project, new Runnable() {
-              public void run() {
-                String text = valueAsString;
-
-                if (text == null) text = "";
-
-                processText(project, text);
-              }
-            });
-          }
-        };
-        progressWindow.setTitle(DebuggerBundle.message("title.evaluating"));
-        debuggerContext.getDebugProcess().getManagerThread().startProgress(copyValueAction, progressWindow);
-      }
+    final Project project = PlatformDataKeys.PROJECT.getData(actionContext);
+    final DebuggerManagerEx debuggerManager = DebuggerManagerEx.getInstanceEx(project);
+    if(debuggerManager == null) {
+      return;
     }
+    final DebuggerContextImpl debuggerContext = debuggerManager.getContext();
+    if (debuggerContext == null || debuggerContext.getDebuggerSession() == null) {
+      return;
+    }
+
+    final ProgressWindowWithNotification progressWindow = new ProgressWindowWithNotification(true, project);
+    SuspendContextCommandImpl getTextCommand = new SuspendContextCommandImpl(debuggerContext.getSuspendContext()) {
+      public Priority getPriority() {
+        return Priority.HIGH;
+      }
+
+      public void contextAction() throws Exception {
+        //noinspection HardCodedStringLiteral
+        progressWindow.setText(DebuggerBundle.message("progress.evaluating", "toString()"));
+
+        final String valueAsString = DebuggerUtilsEx.getValueOrErrorAsString(debuggerContext.createEvaluationContext(), value);
+
+        if (progressWindow.isCanceled()) {
+          return;
+        }
+
+        DebuggerInvocationUtil.swingInvokeLater(project, new Runnable() {
+          public void run() {
+            String text = valueAsString;
+            if (text == null) {
+              text = "";
+            }
+            processText(project, text, node, debuggerContext);
+          }
+        });
+      }
+    };
+    progressWindow.setTitle(DebuggerBundle.message("title.evaluating"));
+    debuggerContext.getDebugProcess().getManagerThread().startProgress(getTextCommand, progressWindow);
   }
 
-  protected abstract void processText(final Project project, String text);
+  protected abstract void processText(final Project project, String text, DebuggerTreeNodeImpl node, DebuggerContextImpl debuggerContext);
 
   public void update(AnActionEvent e) {
     Presentation presentation = e.getPresentation();
-    Value value = getValue(e.getDataContext());
+    Value value = getValue(getSelectedNode(e.getDataContext()));
     presentation.setEnabled(value != null);
     presentation.setVisible(value != null);
   }
 
   @Nullable
-  public static Value getValue(DataContext context) {
-    DebuggerTreeNodeImpl selectedNode = getSelectedNode(context);
-    if (selectedNode == null) {
+  private static Value getValue(final DebuggerTreeNodeImpl node) {
+    if (node == null) {
       return null;
     }
-    NodeDescriptorImpl descriptor = selectedNode.getDescriptor();
-    if (!(descriptor instanceof ValueDescriptorImpl)) {
+    NodeDescriptorImpl descriptor = node.getDescriptor();
+    if (!(descriptor instanceof ValueDescriptor)) {
       return null;
     }
-    return ((ValueDescriptorImpl)descriptor).getValue();
+    return ((ValueDescriptor)descriptor).getValue();
   }
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/java/debugger/impl/src/com/intellij/debugger/actions/CompareValueWithClipboardAction.java b/java/debugger/impl/src/com/intellij/debugger/actions/CompareValueWithClipboardAction.java
index 4f9f6cbdf741..24f5fa0fd12f 100644
--- a/java/debugger/impl/src/com/intellij/debugger/actions/CompareValueWithClipboardAction.java
+++ b/java/debugger/impl/src/com/intellij/debugger/actions/CompareValueWithClipboardAction.java
@@ -16,6 +16,8 @@
 package com.intellij.debugger.actions;
 
 import com.intellij.debugger.DebuggerBundle;
+import com.intellij.debugger.impl.DebuggerContextImpl;
+import com.intellij.debugger.ui.impl.watch.DebuggerTreeNodeImpl;
 import com.intellij.openapi.diff.*;
 import com.intellij.openapi.ide.CopyPasteManager;
 import com.intellij.openapi.project.Project;
@@ -30,7 +32,7 @@ import java.awt.datatransfer.Transferable;
  * @author Jeka
  */
 public class CompareValueWithClipboardAction extends BaseValueAction {
-  protected void processText(final Project project, final String text) {
+  protected void processText(final Project project, final String text, DebuggerTreeNodeImpl node, DebuggerContextImpl debuggerContext) {
     DiffManager.getInstance().getDiffTool().show(new ClipboardSelectionContents(text, project));
   }
 
diff --git a/java/debugger/impl/src/com/intellij/debugger/actions/CopyValueAction.java b/java/debugger/impl/src/com/intellij/debugger/actions/CopyValueAction.java
index 676061bf35b4..256566557ae1 100644
--- a/java/debugger/impl/src/com/intellij/debugger/actions/CopyValueAction.java
+++ b/java/debugger/impl/src/com/intellij/debugger/actions/CopyValueAction.java
@@ -15,6 +15,8 @@
  */
 package com.intellij.debugger.actions;
 
+import com.intellij.debugger.impl.DebuggerContextImpl;
+import com.intellij.debugger.ui.impl.watch.DebuggerTreeNodeImpl;
 import com.intellij.openapi.ide.CopyPasteManager;
 import com.intellij.openapi.project.Project;
 
@@ -24,7 +26,7 @@ import java.awt.datatransfer.StringSelection;
  * @author Jeka
  */
 public class CopyValueAction extends BaseValueAction {
-  protected void processText(final Project project, final String text) {
+  protected void processText(final Project project, final String text, DebuggerTreeNodeImpl node, DebuggerContextImpl debuggerContext) {
     CopyPasteManager.getInstance().setContents(new StringSelection(text));
   }
 }
diff --git a/java/debugger/impl/src/com/intellij/debugger/actions/ViewTextAction.java b/java/debugger/impl/src/com/intellij/debugger/actions/ViewTextAction.java
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..dafaacb3aba1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/java/debugger/impl/src/com/intellij/debugger/actions/ViewTextAction.java
@@ -0,0 +1,105 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright 2000-2012 JetBrains s.r.o.
+ *
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * You may obtain a copy of the License at
+ *
+ * http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ *
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
+package com.intellij.debugger.actions;
+
+import com.intellij.debugger.engine.evaluation.EvaluateException;
+import com.intellij.debugger.engine.evaluation.TextWithImports;
+import com.intellij.debugger.impl.DebuggerContextImpl;
+import com.intellij.debugger.ui.impl.watch.DebuggerTreeNodeExpression;
+import com.intellij.debugger.ui.impl.watch.DebuggerTreeNodeImpl;
+import com.intellij.openapi.editor.EditorFactory;
+import com.intellij.openapi.editor.ex.EditorEx;
+import com.intellij.openapi.fileTypes.FileTypes;
+import com.intellij.openapi.project.Project;
+import com.intellij.openapi.ui.DialogWrapper;
+import com.intellij.openapi.ui.Messages;
+import com.intellij.ui.EditorTextField;
+
+import javax.swing.*;
+import java.awt.*;
+
+/*
+ * @author Jeka
+ */
+public class ViewTextAction extends BaseValueAction {
+  protected void processText(final Project project, final String text, DebuggerTreeNodeImpl node, DebuggerContextImpl debuggerContext) {
+    try {
+      final TextWithImports expressionText = DebuggerTreeNodeExpression.createEvaluationText(node, debuggerContext);
+      final MyDialog dialog = new MyDialog(project);
+      final String title = "View Text: \"" + expressionText.getText() + "\"";
+      dialog.setTitle(title);
+      dialog.setText(text);
+      dialog.show();
+    }
+    catch (EvaluateException e) {
+      Messages.showErrorDialog(project, e.getMessage(), "View Text");
+    }
+  }
+
+
+  private static class MyDialog extends DialogWrapper {
+
+    private EditorTextField myTextViewer;
+
+    private MyDialog(Project project) {
+      super(project, false);
+      setModal(false);
+      setCancelButtonText("Close");
+      setCrossClosesWindow(true);
+
+      myTextViewer = new TextViewer(project);
+      init();
+    }
+
+    public void setText(String text) {
+      myTextViewer.setText(text);
+    }
+
+    protected Action[] createActions() {
+      return new Action[] {getCancelAction()};
+    }
+
+    protected String getDimensionServiceKey() {
+      return "#com.intellij.debugger.actions.ViewTextAction";
+    }
+
+    protected JComponent createCenterPanel() {
+      final JPanel panel = new JPanel(new BorderLayout());
+      panel.add(myTextViewer, BorderLayout.CENTER);
+      panel.setPreferredSize(new Dimension(300, 200));
+      return panel;
+    }
+
+  }
+
+
+  private static class TextViewer extends EditorTextField {
+
+    private TextViewer(Project project) {
+      super(EditorFactory.getInstance().createDocument(""), project, FileTypes.PLAIN_TEXT, true, false);
+    }
+
+    protected EditorEx createEditor() {
+      final EditorEx editor = super.createEditor();
+      editor.setHorizontalScrollbarVisible(true);
+      editor.setVerticalScrollbarVisible(true);
+      editor.setEmbeddedIntoDialogWrapper(true);
+      editor.getComponent().setPreferredSize(null);
+      return editor;
+    }
+  }
+
+}
diff --git a/platform/platform-resources-en/src/messages/ActionsBundle.properties b/platform/platform-resources-en/src/messages/ActionsBundle.properties
index 389e75e26a1f..1bd07cf41aed 100644
--- a/platform/platform-resources-en/src/messages/ActionsBundle.properties
+++ b/platform/platform-resources-en/src/messages/ActionsBundle.properties
@@ -868,6 +868,8 @@ group.XDebugger.settings.text=Settings
 action.Debugger.AdjustArrayRange.text=Adjust Range...
 action.Debugger.Inspect.text=Inspect
 action.Debugger.CopyValue.text=Copy Value
+action.Debugger.ViewText.text=View Text
+action.Debugger.ViewText.description=View text value of selected node in a separate pane
 action.Debugger.CompareValueWithClipboard.text=Compare Value with Clipboard
 action.Debugger.CustomizeContextView.text=Customize Data Views...
 action.Debugger.CustomizeThreadsView.text=Customize Threads View...
diff --git a/resources/src/idea/JavaActions.xml b/resources/src/idea/JavaActions.xml
index d163c65f0ddb..b510b4d4ce76 100644
--- a/resources/src/idea/JavaActions.xml
+++ b/resources/src/idea/JavaActions.xml
@@ -128,6 +128,7 @@
     <group id="JavaDebuggerActions">
       <action id="Debugger.AdjustArrayRange" class="com.intellij.debugger.actions.AdjustArrayRangeAction"/>
       <action id="Debugger.Inspect" class="com.intellij.debugger.actions.InspectAction"/>
+      <action id="Debugger.ViewText" class="com.intellij.debugger.actions.ViewTextAction"/>
       <action id="Debugger.CopyValue" class="com.intellij.debugger.actions.CopyValueAction"/>
       <action id="Debugger.CompareValueWithClipboard" class="com.intellij.debugger.actions.CompareValueWithClipboardAction"/>
       <action id="Debugger.CustomizeContextView" class="com.intellij.debugger.actions.CustomizeContextViewAction"/>
@@ -210,6 +211,7 @@
       <reference ref="ToggleFieldBreakpoint"/>
       <separator/>
       <reference ref="Debugger.CopyValue"/>
+      <reference ref="Debugger.ViewText"/>
       <reference ref="Debugger.CompareValueWithClipboard"/>
       <reference ref="Debugger.CustomizeContextView"/>
     </group>
@@ -230,6 +232,7 @@
       <reference ref="ToggleFieldBreakpoint"/>
       <separator/>
       <reference ref="Debugger.CopyValue"/>
+      <reference ref="Debugger.ViewText"/>
       <reference ref="Debugger.CompareValueWithClipboard"/>
       <reference ref="Debugger.CustomizeContextView"/>
     </group>
@@ -250,6 +253,7 @@
       <reference ref="ToggleFieldBreakpoint"/>
       <separator/>
       <reference ref="Debugger.CopyValue"/>
+      <reference ref="Debugger.ViewText"/>
       <reference ref="Debugger.CompareValueWithClipboard"/>
       <reference ref="Debugger.CustomizeContextView"/>
     </group>
@@ -290,6 +294,7 @@
       <reference ref="ToggleFieldBreakpoint"/>
       <separator/>
       <reference ref="Debugger.CopyValue"/>
+      <reference ref="Debugger.ViewText"/>
       <reference ref="Debugger.CompareValueWithClipboard"/>
       <reference ref="Debugger.CustomizeContextView"/>
     </group>