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Preferences
and Themes
There are several things you need to know about how preferences behave.
First is the file format. 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.
Encoding:
This tells DrPython how to
encode files by default when saving them,
as well as the default
encoding to use when sending commands through the
prompt.
Custom Encoding:
Here you can type in the
text of the encoding you wish to use. For example,
"utf-16". Type in
"<None>" to have DrPython ignore encoding (Default).
Be Sure to Set "Encoding"
to "Custom" to use this option.
Auto-Detect UTF-8 Encoding:
Automatically detect if a
file has utf-8 (unicode) encoding.
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 .dis file, and will load the bitmaps
detailed within.
More on Dis
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.
Long Line Indicator Column:
Set a column to indicate you
have gone past a particular position.
(79, for example).
Using a negative number tells
DrPython to highlight the text past
the specified position, instead
of drawing a column.
0 Tells DrPython not to draw
anything.
Scroll Extra Page:
This tells drpython to set the
vertical scroll range to one page
more than the length of the
current document.
Default Syntax Highlighting:
Highlight text not recognized via
extension THIS WAY.
Only Use Default Syntax Highlighting:
Only use the syntax highlighting
specified above, no matter
what extension a file has.
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.
Find/Replace In Files:
These are the defaults for the
Find/Replace In Files Dialog.
Regular Expression:
Evaluates the search text as a regular
expression.
Match Case:
Case-Sensitive Search.
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.
Subdirectories:
Tells DrPython to search
subdirectories on Find/Replace operations.
Backup Before Replace:
DrPython will create backups of
each file (filename + ".bak")
on each Replace operation.
Sessions:
Defaults for Sessions.
Default Directory:
This tells DrPython what directory to
set the Load/Save
Session Dialog to.
Setting this to "<DEFAULT>"
will tell DrPython to use the current
directory instead.
Recent Sessions Limit:
This tells
DrPython how many recent sessions to
keep track of.
0 is the least you can enter,
and will
cause DrPython to ignore recent sessions.
Line Endings:
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/Rename
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)
Shell:
This sets the behavious of the Shell
Menu/Dialogs:
Style:
This sets how the Move/Rename Shell
Commands Dialog appears (foreground
and background color,
font, size, underline/bold/italics).
Default Command Directory:
The directory to change to when running
the shell command.
This is the default option when you add
a new shell command.
"<Current Directory>" tells
DrPython to use the directory
of the current file.
Default Command Arguments:
The default arguments for each new
shell comand.
"<Current File>" tells to
DrPython to use the current file as an argument.
Run In Prompt By Default:
Run in prompt by default.
You can only run one program (python interpreter, shell,
current file) at a time.
You can also run without the prompt using wxShell().
On unix-like systems, adding "
&" after a command will allow it to run in the background.
This is the default setting for a
new shell command.
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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