General Options

Preferences are grouped into General Options, described below, E-Mail Options, File Type Options, and Slideshow Options.

To set your general options

1. Choose Options from the Tools menu. The Options dialog appears with the General tab selected.

2. Set the options described below and click OK.

Check for online updates every time I start Picasa: If you have an active Internet connection when you open Picasa, Picasa will check to see if there is a update available. If there is an update available, you will be prompted to download it. You must close Picasa and reopen it for the update to take effect. At any time, you can also manually check for updates using a Help menu command.

Automatically detect media: Picasa can detect media cards and cameras that appear as drives on your computer and automatically begin the import process. When you select this option, a Picasa status indicator appears in the system tray, located in the lower right corner of the Windows screen.  This option is not necessary on Windows XP.

Automatically detect duplicate files while importing: When you select this option, Picasa will automatically check each image's file name and file date during the Import process. If Picasa detects a duplicate file, it will not import it. This option is useful if you import from media cards or CDs.

Use special effects in user interface: When you select this option, special effects appear when you move between views in Picasa, such as when you move from the Library Mode to the Edit Mode or Timeline view.

Show tooltips: Tooltips are descriptive textboxes that appear when you hold your cursor over a feature.  You can choose whether you want to display tooltips or not.

Single-click to exit Edit View: Allows you to close pictures with one click (instead of two)

Printer Quality Setting:

Compatible Mode: Works with most printers

High Quality Mode: Best quality, may not work with all printers

Print Resampler Quality:

General: Faster printing and medium quality prints

Extra Sharp: Slower but excellent quality prints

Save Imported Pictures In: When you import pictures into Picasa, you can specify the default folder in which the pictures will be copied. Click Browse to select a folder from a folder list.