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Preferences

and Themes


There are several things you need to know about how preferences behave.

First is the file format.  From 2.2.7 on, preferences are stored
in a markup text format.  This means if new preferences are added
in future versions, you will not need to change the format, or run
some utility on your preferences file.

Themes are simply a way of storing your preferences,
so that you can easily change the appearance of DrPython
without losing your favorite preferences.

Since wxWindows is cross platform, the frame and raw gui elements
of DrPython (buttons, textboxes, etc) are controlled by the native platform.
On Linux, themes are easily obtained and set (via GTK).

DrPython themes stores the style settings for the Document,
Prompt, Class Browser, Bookmarks Dialog,
and the Icon File being used.  If you share a theme, but not
the icon file mentioned, DrPython will simply load the default icons.
An important note for themes:
the icon file must be located relative to the theme file (in the same
directory, or in a subdirectory).

Preferences:

General:
    These apply to the program as a whole.

    Window Width:
    Window Height:
            These set the non-maximized state of DrPython. 
            This is the size of DrPython every time you start it up.
            Entering -1 or lower as a value for either preference
            will tell DrPython to use the Default Size for both.

    Max Number of Recent Files:
           This tells DrPython how many recent files to
           keep track of.  0 is the least you can enter,
           and will cause DrPython to ignore recent files.

    Tab Width:
          This tells DrPython how big to make tabs look ('\t').
          For example, 8 will make a single tab look like 8 spaces.

    MDI:
          This tells DrPython to open files in Multiple Document Interface Mode.
          This means instead of a new window with each file, each file is opened
          in its own tab.  Each file has its own associated prompt, and each can run
          their own process.  Note that when switching betwen MDI and SDI
          mode (Single Document Interface), all current files are closed, then reopened.

    Python Arguments:
          This sends the given arguments directly to
          python when you run a file, debug a file, or run the
          python interpreter on its own.  A Common argument
          is "-i" (typed in without any quotes).
          This will tell python to switch to interactive mode
          after the current file has finished running.
          More arguments can be found in the python documentation,
          or by typing "python -h" at the command prompt.

    Icon Size:
       This tells DrPython how big the toolbar needs to be.
         Selecting 0 will (on restart) tell DrPython to
         not load the ToolBar at all.

    Icon File:
       If left blank, or if an invalid file name is given, DrPython
       will load the default files.  Otherwise DrPython will read
       the .dif file, and will load the bitmaps detailed within.
       More on Dif Files
       
    Default Directory:
         This tells DrPython where to look for files initially. 
         Once a file has been opened, DrPython sets the
         current directory to the file's directory.

    Enable Feedback:
          This allows pop up windows to tell you if operations were
          successful (For example, successefully updated preferences).

    Enable Warnings:
          This allows pop ups that warn the user about their actions.
          (For Example, "Warning:  Changing the MDI S state will
           cause DrPython to reload all open files in this window")

    Always Prompt On Exit:
          This tells DrPython to always ask if the user wants to exit, even if there is
          no current file, or the current file has been saved.

    Backup File On Save:
          Whenever you save a file, before DrPython writes to the file,
          it will make a renamed copy (the filename with ".bak" attached)
          in the same folder.

    Auto Goto For Traceback:
          If enabled, when a process ends for a file, if DrPython finds a traceback,
          or a syntax error, DrPython will either select or open the target file,
          then automatically scroll to and set the caret to the target line number.

Document
    This is "DrFrame.txtDocument". It is the text control that has
    the text of the currently open file.
   
    Line Number Margin Width:
        Sets the margin width in pixels for linenumbers.

    Autoindent:
        Adds the number of tabs up to the first non-whitespace
        character in the previous line on every new line.

    Use Tabs:
       If checked, uses tabs '\t' when you hit the tab key, and for
       for autoindent.  If not, uses the number of spaces specified
       in tabwidth.

    Word Wrap:
        Does not show the horizontal scroolbar, and "wraps" lines
        that are rather long around so they appear as more than one
        line.

    Whitespace is Visible on Startup:
        When DrPython starts up, automatically toggles whitespace is visible.

    Folding:
        Allows the document to "Fold".  This lets you hide or show
        lines of a "block" (eg a class, function or an "if" statement).

    Use Indentation Guides:
        This optionally draws vertical lines, visually connecting
        levels of indentation.

    Scroll Extra Page:
        This tells drpython to set the vertical scroll range to one page
        more than the length of the current document.

    Style:
        This sets how different kinds of text appear (foreground and
        background color, font, size, underline/bold/italics).

        You can choose to Not use styles at all, use them, or use
        only "Normal" and "Caret Foreground".

Prompt
    This is "DrFrame.txtPrompt". It is the text control that has
    the input and output of the currently running program.
   
    Line Number Margin Width:
        Sets the margin width in pixels for linenumbers.

    Visible on Startup:
        If True, tells DrPython to show the prompt each time it loads.

    Use Tabs:
       If checked, uses tabs '\t' when you hit the tab key.
       If not, uses the number of spaces specified in tabwidth.

    Word Wrap:
       Does not show the horizontal scroolbar, and "wraps" lines
       that are rather long around so they appear as more than one
       line.

    Whitespace is Visible on Startup:
        When DrPython starts up, automatically toggles whitespace is visible.

    Scroll Extra Page:
        This tells drpython to set the vertical scroll range to one page
        more than the length of the prompt.

    Vertical Size:
        Sets the percentage size of the prompt vs the document when
        the prompt is visible.  25% for the prompt means 75% for the document.

    Style:
        This sets how different kinds of text appear (foreground and
        background color, font, size, underline/bold/italics).

        You can choose to Not use styles at all, use them, or use
        only "Normal" and "Caret Foreground".

Find/Replace:
    These are the defaults for the Find/Replace/Switcheroo Dialogs.

    Regular Expression:
       Evaluates the search text as a regular expression.
       Only Searches Forward.
   
    Match Case:
       Case-Sensitive Search.

    Find Backwards:
       Search from the end of the target text.

    Whole Word:
       Only match whole words (whitespace on either side).

    In Selection:
       If there is selected text, then only search within the selected text.

    From Cursor:
        Search from the current position in the document, rather than from the start.

    Prompt on Replace:
        Prompt the user on each replace operation, and let the user decide whether
        or not to replace the target text, or skip it.

File Format:
    This is the line ending used when saving files.

    Check Line Ending Format on Open:
       This tells DrPython to check to see if your default line ending is used as
       the line ending when you open a file.

    Line Ending Format:
       The Default is Unix ('\n').  You can also select Windows ('\r\n') or Mac ('\r').

Print:
    These are the preferences for printing.

    Document Line Numbers:
       This tells DrPython whether or not to print line numbers when printing
       the current file.

    Prompt Line Numbers:
       This tells DrPython whether or not to print line numbers when printing
       the text of the prompt.

    Tab Width:
        This tells DrPython how big to make tabs look ('\t') when printing.
        For example, 5 will make a single tab look like 5 spaces.

Class Browser:
    This tells DrPython how the classbrowser looks and acts.

    Close On Activate:
       When you activate an item (select it with a double click, or with the keyboard),
       this tells DrPython whether or not to close the Class Browser window.

    Sorted(Alphabetical):
       This tells DrPython whether or not to sort classes/functions alphabetically,
       or leave them in the order they appear in the program.

    Style:
        This sets how the class browser appears (foreground and
        background color, font, size, underline/bold/italics).
   
Bookmarks:
    This tells DrPython how the Edit Bookmarks Dialog should look.
    Also applies to Documentation Bookmarks.

    Style:
        This sets how the Edit Bookmarks Dialog appears (foreground
        and background color, font, size, underline/bold/italics).

DrScript:
    This sets the behavior of Adding/Creating a Script.

    Default Directory:
       This tells DrPython what directory to set the Add/New Script Dialog to.

    Style:
        This sets how the Move Scripts Dialog appears (foreground
        and background color, font, size, underline/bold/italics).

    Load Examples:
       Loads all example scripts from the DrPython program directory, and places them
       in a submenu of DrScript.  Note that disabling this option will remove any Shortcuts
       for these Scripts. (If you subsequently update DrScript Shortcuts)

Themes:
    This sets the behavior of Saving/Loading Themes.

    Default Directory:
       This tells DrPython what directory to set the Save/Load Theme Dialog to.

Documentation:
    This sets the behavior of the built in help, and external documentation.

    View Help With Browser:
       Use the Browser Specified to open DrPython Help, rather than the built in help browser.

    Browser:
       The preferred browser for viewing the documentation

    Python Docs:
        The Official Python Documentation.  Sets the location.  

    WxWindows Docs:
        The WxWindows Documentation.  Sets the location.

    Regular Expression Howto:
        A guide to regular expressions for python programmers.

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