# Showing full or compressed package names

Package Explorer and Packages views can show full or compressed package names.

To show full package names:

- Clear the Compress all package name segments, except the final segment checkbox on the Window > Preference > Java > Appearance page

To show compressed package names:

- Check the Compress all package name segments, except the final segment checkbox on the Window > Preference > Java > Appearance page

  Compression patterns control how many characters of each package name segment are displayed. The last segment of a package name is always displayed.

  A compression pattern of "." indicates that only the separating periods are shown to represent a segment. A digit (n) in a compression pattern represents the first n characters of a package name segment. Examples are the best way to understand compression patterns. The package org.eclipse.jdt would be displayed as follows using the example compression patterns:

  . ..jdt

  0 jdt

  2~ or~.ec~.jdt

  3~ org.ecl~.jdt

Java Appearance preference page
Package Explorer