Chapter 11. Preferences

Figure 11.1 shows the preferences window as it appears by factory default; preferences are organized mainly by windows, while a few general preferences for file access control and interface languages are also provided.

Figure 11.1: The GrafEq preferences window

Before going into details about preferences, following are some general hints about the effects of preference settings and some general use instructions:

• Most preference settings take effect immediately, but some take full effect only in subsequent sessions; nevertheless, full preference changes can always be activated immediately by quitting and restarting GrafEq.
  
• Default means that the settings apply to all appropriate cases, across sessions, and every time GrafEq is started. Default settings can be changed ‘on the fly’, while GrafEq is running, but the changes will apply only to individual graphs or windows, and will not affect the defaults; the next time GrafEq is started, default settings would be back in effect.
• Checking an option’s checkbox activates the option; clicking on a checkbox or the checkbox’s name toggles between its checked and unchecked states.
• Clicking on a pop-up menu brings up a pop-up list or table, so the desired option can be selected from it.
• Some preference controls are offered in lists, as in the Ticks Defaults preferences. Lists have the following general properties:
  • Lists can be toggled between an expanded and a collapsed state, by clicking on the name of the list, or on the triangular arrow adjacent to it.
  • Expanded lists reveal the respective list elements and/or sub-lists. List elements revealed can then be customized individually; and sub-lists can then be further expanded, or collapsed. The same rules that apply to lists also apply to sub-lists.
  • Some lists also come with checkboxes adjacent to their respective triangular arrows. (Most lists in the Ticks Defaults preferences have them.) The list box can be checked or unchecked to conveniently, and collectively, select or deselect all element options covered by the list.
    A list which has selected as well as unselected elements displays a horizontal bar in its checkbox.

Windows Preferences
Windows are listed in alphabetical order of window names, as seen in figure 11.1 earlier.

Algebraic Window Preferences

Hint: Algebraic window preferences also control the custom ticks window settings.

Controls cover the clipboard, easy buttons, display fields, and the teleprompter. Figure 11.2 shows algebraic window preferences:

Figure 11.2: Algebraic window preferences

• Algebraic Window - Clipboard
  Clipboard Preferences are for setting appearances and formats to be used when exporting from GrafEq’s algebraic windows to the clipboard. Figure 11.3 shows clipboard preferences:
  
  Figure 11.3: Algebraic window clipboard preferences
  
  • Add padding space around equation checkbox
    Check the option if it enhances layout appearance when relations are pasted to a word processing document.
  • Export to clipboard as... format pop-up menu
    Select some text to export a relation in simple ASCII characters only;
    select a picture to export it exactly as it appears in the algebraic window; and
    select some text and a picture to include both text and picture information.
  • Use ... bitmap in place of a picture checkbox and resolution pop-up menu box
    Check bitmap and select low resolutions to save memory and disk space;
    select higher resolutions for smoother and clearer bitmaps.
  • Include formatting details in text clip checkbox
    Check the option if formatting details can be used to enhance layout appearance when relations are pasted to a word processing document.
  
  
• Algebraic Window - Easy Buttons
  Easy buttons preferences are for setting defaults to show, or not show, the easy button floating window; and setting access to each easy button group. Figure 11.4 shows easy buttons preferences:
  
  Figure 11.4: Algebraic window easy buttons preferences
  
  • Show easy buttons checkbox
    Select the option to show the easy button floating window every time GrafEq starts up.
    After startup, display of the easy button floating window is controlled by accessing GrafEq’s Relation menu or Custom Ticks menu, from which Easy Buttons can be toggled between the selected state (to show the window), and the de-selected state (to hide the window).
  • Access list
    • Expand on Startup checkbox and Available checkbox for each easy button group
      Select the respective Available checkboxes to display the headings of desired easy button groups; to expand any selected groups (display the individual easy buttons under the headings), select also the respective Expand on Startup checkboxes.

      Tip: While Available options are only accessible from the preferences window, expand, or collapse, under each group heading can also be conveniently toggled from within the easy button floating window.

    
    
• Algebraic Window - Formatted Display
  Formatted display preferences are for setting font type, default font size, and appearances of entries in the algebraic window’s constraint field(s). Figure 11.5 shows formatted display preferences:
  
  Figure 11.5: Algebraic window formatted display preferences
  
  • Defaults list
    • On startup, warn user if proper fonts are not available checkbox
      Select this option to warn user every time GrafEq starts up if proper fonts are not available.
    • Precise character layout checkbox
    • Display implicit multiplications checkbox
    • Default font size... pop-up menu, with up and down arrow buttons
      The up arrow button is for stepwise size increment; the down arrow button, stepwise size decrement.
  • Fonts option list
    • Effects sample box
      The effects of the current font options set under this manual section is displayed here for convenient examination.
      The highlighted character(s) represents the currently selected character kind; its selection, font type, and appearance each corresponds to the respective option settings listed below the effects sample box.
    • Character Kind pop-up menu
      This Kind pop-up menu lists: formatted character kinds (entries to the left side of the mouse cursor), then a separator line, and finally unformatted character kinds (entries to the left side of the mouse cursor).

      The character kind selected will be highlighted in the effects sample box. Selection can be changed by either clicking any characters of the desired kind within the effects sample box, or from the Kind pop-up menu.

      Hint: The current option in the Kind pop-up menu and the kind of characters highlighted in the sample box are synchronized.

    • Font setting controls include:
      • a Font type pop-up menu,
      • a Bold checkbox,
      • a Italic checkbox,
      • a Outline checkbox, and
      • a Colour pop-up menu.
      Any changes in the font settings will apply only to the currently selected / highlighted character kind, and will take effect immediately in both the sample box, and the algebraic window.

      Hint: The font settings shown and the appearances of the highlighted characters in the sample box are synchronized.

    
    

    Tip: Symbol character kinds, for both formatted and unformatted sections, should use symbol font only. Experiment with the various options and see the effects.

  
  
• Algebraic Window - Keystroke Display
  

  Hint: As of GrafEq version 2.04, keystroke information is available directly from the constraint field, by positioning the cursor to the left of the entries. The keystroke field remains useful for printing purposes, but has been set to be hidden by default preference settings.

  Keystroke display preferences is for setting to show, or not show the keystroke field (which would be a strip field beneath the current constraint field), and setting font type, and appearances of entries in the keystroke field. Figure 11.6 shows keystroke display preferences:
  
  Figure 11.6: Algebraic window keystroke display preferences
  
  • Show keystroke line checkbox
    Select this option to show the keystroke line when a constraint is being entered or edited.
  • Fonts option list
    Fonts options are essentially identical to those for the formatted display, except that these options apply to entries to the keystroke display field.

• Algebraic Window - Teleprompter
  The teleprompter preference is for toggling to show, or not show the teleprompter (which would be the user hint shown at the bottom of an active constraint field). There is just one preference option, provided by the Show teleprompter checkbox. Figure 11.7 shows the teleprompter preference:
  
  Figure 11.7: Algebraic window teleprompter preferences
  

Create View Window Preferences
Create view window preferences are for setting default options covering automatic graphing, colour view and view size, and interface options covering user access to these create view settings and controls. Figure 11.8 shows create view window preferences:

Figure 11.8: Create View Window preferences

• Defaults list:
  • Start graphing immediately checkbox
    Select this option for automatic graphing when a new view is opened. De-select this option and graphing in a view window has to be activated by selecting the Graph checkbox in the view window’s parameter bar.
  • Display views in colour, if possible checkbox
    De-select this option to display graph views in black and white, which might be desired such as in printing.
  • View size:... pop-up menu
    Selectable view sizes are relative to the monitor size.
  • Perturb bounds checkbox
    Select this option to enlarge bounds by about 0.01% of the view size every time a new view created, so that graphed lines will always have uniform thickness (because lines like x=0 will fall upon a column or row of pixels rather than in between two columns or rows).

  Hint: Defaults apply to all create view windows. Settings for individual create view windows can be changed from within that create view window if either of the interface options, described in the following section, are selected.

• Interface options list:
  • Provide "More/Fewer Options..." button checkbox
    Select this option to provide a "More/Fewer Options..." button at the bottom center of each create view window. The button allows view creation options to be displayed or hidden anytime from within the create view window. Displayed options can then be customized for the current view creation.

    Hint: When create view options are hidden, the button would be labelled More Options and is for revealing the options; When create view options are shown, the button would be labelled Fewer Options and is for simplifying or minimizing the create view window.

  • Show view creation options checkbox
    Select this option to show the individual create view options.

    Hint: The setting of this option solely determines the accessibility of view creation options if the "More/Fewer Options..." button is not provided within the create view window.

Custom Ticks Window Preferences
Custom Ticks Window uses the same preference settings as the algebraic window.

Memory Monitor Window Preferences
Memory monitor preferences are for setting defaults to show, or not show, the memory monitor, setting its optional data contents, and setting formats and appearances for the memory monitor window. Figure 11.9 shows memory monitor window preferences:

Figure 11.9: Memory monitor window preferences

• Show memory monitor on startup checkbox
  Unselect this option if memory is scarce. The memory monitor can always be brought up instantly while GrafEq is running, by selecting Memory Monitor from the help menu.
• Displayed Data list:
  • Labels checkbox
    Select this option to label each data item presented; de-select to give only bare data.
  • Numbers checkbox
    Select this option to show exact quantities of memory, in Bytes, KBytes, or MBytes, in addition to percentages for data items.
  • Show largest available block checkbox
  • Amalgamate used memory checkbox
  
  
• Window appearance options list:
  • Resizable window checkbox
    Select this option to use a resizable window for the memory monitor. De-select the option to use a simple non-resizable window.
  • Horizontal window checkbox
    De-select this option to use a vertical window.
  • Show bars checkbox
    Select this option to proportional bars to present data items. Proportional bars can be used in addition to percentages, and/or numbers.
  • Update data every... time interval pop-up menu
    Select a rate just frequent enough to display reasonably timely information, because fast changing data can be hard to read. GrafEq constantly monitors memory conditions anyway.

Page Window Preferences
Page window preferences are for setting the frequency at which page window contents are to be updated from any graph views, and setting font size for the page window to suit printing needs. Figure 11.10 shows page window preferences:

Figure 11.10: Page window preferences

• Updates preference is provided by the Update from view window every... time interval pop-up menu.
  
  
• Decoration preference is provided by the default font size pop-up menu.

Preferences Window Preferences
Preferences window preferences are for controlling access to preferences settings, and saving of preference changes. Figure 11.11 shows preferences window preferences:

Figure 11.11: Preferences window preferences

• Password must be entered to access preferences checkbox
  Select this option to restrict any access to the preferences window and settings.
• Password must be entered to save preferences checkbox
  Select this option to restrict changes to the preferences file; if the preferences window is accessible, preferences can be changed for the current GrafEq session, but saving of the changes is restricted by password.

Structural Window Preference
The structural window preference is for setting defaults to present commutative relations either as processed flat tree structures, or as original/unprocessed full-blown trees. The control is provided by the Combine commutative checkbox. Figure 11.12 shows structural window preference:

Figure 11.12: Structural window preference

Title Window Preference
Title window displays the GrafEq version logo in an attractive splash screen. One prefer control is offered for the title window, by the Minimum number of available colours to justify using colour... number pop-up menu. Figure 11.13 shows title window preference:

Figure 11.13: Title window preferences

View Window Preferences
Controls cover the clipboard, view colours, information, ticks, view and zoom. Figure 11.14 shows view window preferences:

Figure 11.14: View window preferences

• View Window - Clipboard
  Clipboard preference is for setting format and resolution to be used when exporting from GrafEq’s view windows to the clipboard. Figure 11.15 shows the clipboard preference:
  
  Figure 11.15: View window clipboard preference
  

  Clipboard preference is provided by the Use ... bitmap in place of a picture checkbox and resolution pop-up menu. Check bitmap and select low resolutions to save memory and disk space; select high resolutions for smoother and clearer bitmaps.

  Hint: Relations and graph views are always exported in screen resolution, bitmap resolution selected affects only ticks, and text and other elements added in with drawing tools.

• View Window - Colours
  Colours preferences are for setting default appearances, and colours and patterns for graph views. Figure 11.16 shows colour preferences:
  
  
  Figure 11.16: View window colours preferences
  
  • Blend layers checkbox
    Select this option to blend relation colours in any intersecting regions when a graph displays multiple relations. De-select this option to have the colours or patterns of the relations pile up in opaque layers.
  • Colours list:
    • Background colour pop-up menu
    • Layer colours pop-up menus
      The default colours of the first 15 relations can be specified in these 15 Layer colours pop-up menus. A combination or light coloured background and dark coloured relations, or vice versa, generally enhances readability.
  • Patterns list:
    • Background colour pop-up menu The default background colour can be either white or black. White background generally enhances readability.
    • Layer patterns pop-up menus
      The default patterns of the first 15 relations can be specified in these 15 Layer patterns pop-up menus.

• View Window - Information
  Information preferences are for setting updating frequency, and optional displayed data items for the view window’s information view buddy. Figure 11.17 shows information preferences:
  
  
  Figure 11.17: View window information preferences
  
  • Updates - Update info every... time interval pop-up menu
    Select a rate just frequent enough to display reasonably timely information, because fast changing data can be hard to read. GrafEq constantly monitors memory conditions anyway.
  • Displayed Data list:
    • Region count checkbox
    • Memory usage checkbox
    • Scheduling pedigree checkbox
    • Equation Evaluation Rate checkbox
    • Total Equation Evaluations checkbox
    • CPU time checkbox
    • Real time checkbox
    • Dimensionality checkbox
    • Show work areas checkbox
    • Work area colours colour pop-up menus
    • Pixel size checkbox
    All the data options are selected by default preferences. Refer to the View Buddy Floating Window chapter for detailed meaning and useful application of information buddy’s displayed data.

• View Window - Ticks
  Ticks preferences are for setting when to show created ticks, and setting optional default components and default appearances of ticks in graph views. Figure 11.18 shows information preferences:
  
  Figure 11.18: View window ticks preferences
  
  • Creation preference is for setting when to show newly created ticks in graph views. Displaying immediately might be convenient; displaying later might speed up graphing. The preference is provided by:
    
    • After creating a new view, display ticks... time pop-up menu, and
    • or... state pop-up menu.
  • Defaults preferences are for setting default components and appearances of ticks in graph views. The option interfaces are essentially identical to those in the Ticks view buddy, except that preferences are for setting defaults while view buddy controls affects the current GrafEq session only. Refer to the View Buddy Floating Window chapter for details of the controls.
• View Window - View
  View preference is for setting arithmetic rounding rules. One preference options is offered, by the Calculation - Perform arithmetic with outward rounding checkbox. Figure 11.19 shows the view calculation preference:
  
  Figure 11.19: View arithmetic preferences
  

• View Window - Zoom
  The Zoom preference is for setting defaults to keep or replace the original view on zooming. One preference option is offered, by the Keep the old view after zooming checkbox. Figure 11.20 shows the zoom preference:
  
  Figure 11.20: Zoom preferences
  

Files Preferences

Figure 11.21: Files preferences

Files preferences are for controlling access to file loading and saving/changing, by the Password required for opening files checkbox and Password required for saving files checkbox.

Hint: The same password will be used for controlling access to preference settings and saving, as well as access to file loading and saving. A user specific password is supplied with registration.

Language Preference

Figure 11.22: Language preferences

Language preference is for changing the interface language, by clicking on the American English radio button or the Canadian English radio button.

Conclusion
To conclude this chapter of the manual, remember that default preference means that the settings will apply to all appropriate cases, and across sessions, every time GrafEq is started. These settings can be changed on the fly, when GrafEq is running, but the changes will apply only to individual graphs or windows, and will not affect the defaults. The next time GrafEq is started, default settings would be back in effect.

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