diff --git a/debug/org.eclipse.cdt.debug.core/src/org/eclipse/cdt/debug/core/cdi/model/ICDIVariable.java b/debug/org.eclipse.cdt.debug.core/src/org/eclipse/cdt/debug/core/cdi/model/ICDIVariable.java
index 1b2c9ef522e..7c57b5324fa 100644
--- a/debug/org.eclipse.cdt.debug.core/src/org/eclipse/cdt/debug/core/cdi/model/ICDIVariable.java
+++ b/debug/org.eclipse.cdt.debug.core/src/org/eclipse/cdt/debug/core/cdi/model/ICDIVariable.java
@@ -62,4 +62,13 @@ public interface ICDIVariable extends ICDIObject {
 	 * @throws CDIException if this method fails.  Reasons include:
 	 */
 	void setValue(ICDIValue value) throws CDIException;
+	
+	/**
+	 * Set the format of the variable.
+	 * 
+	 * @param format - @see ICDIFormat
+	 * @throws CDIException if this method fails.
+	 */
+	void setFormat(int format) throws CDIException;
+
 }