diff --git a/dsf/org.eclipse.cdt.dsf/src/org/eclipse/cdt/dsf/datamodel/AbstractDMContext.java b/dsf/org.eclipse.cdt.dsf/src/org/eclipse/cdt/dsf/datamodel/AbstractDMContext.java
index 2c5dd2b6fd5..a6d052dabfc 100644
--- a/dsf/org.eclipse.cdt.dsf/src/org/eclipse/cdt/dsf/datamodel/AbstractDMContext.java
+++ b/dsf/org.eclipse.cdt.dsf/src/org/eclipse/cdt/dsf/datamodel/AbstractDMContext.java
@@ -35,6 +35,8 @@ import org.eclipse.core.runtime.PlatformObject;
 abstract public class AbstractDMContext extends PlatformObject 
     implements IDMContext     
 {
+    public static final IDMContext[] EMPTY_PARENTS_ARRAY = new IDMContext[0];
+    
     private final String fSessionId;
     private final IDMContext[] fParents;
 
@@ -70,9 +72,10 @@ abstract public class AbstractDMContext extends PlatformObject
     }
 
     private boolean areParentsEqual(IDMContext[] otherParents) {
-        if ( !(fParents.length == otherParents.length) ) return false;
-        for (int i = 0; i < fParents.length; i++) {
-            if (!fParents[i].equals(otherParents[i])) {
+        IDMContext[] parents = getParents();
+        if ( !(parents.length == otherParents.length) ) return false;
+        for (int i = 0; i < parents.length; i++) {
+            if (!parents[i].equals(otherParents[i])) {
                 return false;
             }
         }
@@ -95,14 +98,14 @@ abstract public class AbstractDMContext extends PlatformObject
 	 */
     protected String baseToString() {
         StringBuilder retVal = new StringBuilder(); 
-        for (IDMContext parent : fParents) {
+        for (IDMContext parent : getParents()) {
             retVal.append(parent);
             retVal.append(',');
         }
         if (retVal.length() > 0) {
         	retVal.deleteCharAt(retVal.length() - 1);	// remove trailing comma
         }
-        if (fParents.length > 1) {
+        if (getParents().length > 1) {
         	retVal.insert(0, '(');
         	retVal.insert(retVal.length(), ')');
         }
diff --git a/dsf/org.eclipse.cdt.dsf/src/org/eclipse/cdt/dsf/debug/service/IFormattedValues.java b/dsf/org.eclipse.cdt.dsf/src/org/eclipse/cdt/dsf/debug/service/IFormattedValues.java
index 4d8deb4ead5..a82fd3f86af 100644
--- a/dsf/org.eclipse.cdt.dsf/src/org/eclipse/cdt/dsf/debug/service/IFormattedValues.java
+++ b/dsf/org.eclipse.cdt.dsf/src/org/eclipse/cdt/dsf/debug/service/IFormattedValues.java
@@ -73,7 +73,6 @@ public interface IFormattedValues extends IDsfService {
      * DMC that represents a value with specific format.  The format ID can be
      * persisted and used for comparison. 
      */
-
     public static class FormattedValueDMContext extends AbstractDMContext 
     {
         private final String fFormatID;
@@ -81,16 +80,26 @@ public interface IFormattedValues extends IDsfService {
         /**
 		 * @since 2.0
 		 */
-        public FormattedValueDMContext(IDsfService service, IDMContext parent, String formatId) {
-            super(service, new IDMContext[] { parent });
+        public FormattedValueDMContext(IDsfService service, IDMContext parentValue, String formatId) {
+            super(service, new IDMContext[] { parentValue });
             fFormatID = formatId;
         }
 
-        public FormattedValueDMContext(String sessionId, IDMContext parent, String formatId) {
-            super(sessionId, new IDMContext[] { parent });
+        public FormattedValueDMContext(String sessionId, IDMContext parentValue, String formatId) {
+            super(sessionId, new IDMContext[] { parentValue });
             fFormatID = formatId;
         }
         
+        /**
+         * Returns the parent context which represents the value on which this 
+         * formatted value is based on.   
+         * 
+         * @since 2.2
+         */
+        public IDMContext getParentValueDMContext() {
+            return getParents()[0];
+        }
+        
         public String getFormatID() {
             return fFormatID;
         }