GrafEq - Preferences

Macintosh Manual

Chapter 11. Preferences

Preferences are for setting defaults for some GrafEq features, behaviour and appearances. Some advanced features are also controlled only from within preference windows. Preference windows are accessible by selecting Preferences from the File menu. Figure 11.1 shows the preference window as it appears by factory default:

Figure 11.1: The GrafEq preferences window

GrafEq preferences are organized mainly by windows; other general preference for file access control and interface languages are also provided.

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

Most preference settings take effect immediately; some take full effect only in subsequent sessions, but full preference changes can be activated immediately by quitting and restarting GrafEq.
Default 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’, 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.
Selecting an option’s checkbox activates the option; clicking on a checkbox or the checkbox’s name toggles between its selected and unselected states;
Clicking on a pop-up menu brings up its pop-up list or table, so the desired option can be selected from it.
Many preference controls are offered in lists. Lists are expandable, as explained following:
- Lists can be expanded by clicking on the triangular arrow adjacent to, or the name of, the respective list.
- Expanded lists reveal the respective list elements and/or sub-lists. List elements revealed can then be selected individually; and sub-lists can then be further expanded. The same list rules apply to sub-lists.
- Some lists also come with checkboxes adjacent to their respective triangular arrows. The list box can be selected to conveniently select all elements of the list.
  Fully selected lists have check marks in their checkboxes; partially selected lists have horizontal bars in their checkboxes; fully unselected lists have blank checkboxes.

Windows Preferences

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

Algebraic Window Preferences

(Custom Ticks Window uses the same preference settings as the algebraic window.)
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
  Select the option if it enhances layout appearance when relations are pasted to a wordprocessing 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
  Select bitmap and select low resolutions to save memory and disk space; select high resolutions for smoother and clearer bitmaps.
- Include formatting details in text clip checkbox
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
- Access
  - Expand on Startup checkbox and Available checkbox for each easy button group. Select Available to display the heading of the respective easy button group; select Expand on Startup to display the heading as well as individual easy buttons of the respective easy button group. By factory default, the Roman characters and numbers group are unavailable because they are already available from the standard keyboard. Refer to to Appendix A, the Easy Buttons appendix for details of easy buttons.

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:
- On startup, warn user if proper fonts are not available checkbox
- Precise character layout checkbox
- Default font size... pop-up menu, with up and down arrow buttons
  The up arrow button is for stepwise size increment, and the down arrow button is for stepwise size decrement.

Fonts

Effects sample - This area displays the effects of the current font options set under this manual section.
The highlighted character(s) represents the currently selected character kind. The appearance of these highlighted characters and the font settings currently displayed correspond with each other. The kind of characters highlighted is synchronized with the selection displayed in the character kind pop-up menu, and can be changed by either clicking within the effects sample box, or from the character kind pop-up menu. The character kind pop-up menu is described next.
Character Kind pop-up menu - The pop-up menu lists formatted character kinds (entries to the left side of the mouse cursor) first, then a separator line, and finally unformatted character kinds (entries to the left side of the mouse cursor).
Font setting controls include:
- a Font pop-up menu,
- a Bold checkbox,
- a Italic checkbox,
- a Outline checkbox, and
- a Colour pop-up menu.
Any font setting changes made will apply only to the currently selected character kind, as highlighted in the effects sample box, and indicated in the character kind pop-up menu.

Hint:

The highlighted character kind in the sample box and the current option in the kind pop-up menu are synchronized.
The format and appearances of the highlighted characters are synchronized with font type, boldface, italic and outline type, and colour settings selected/displayed.
Any changes in the font options takes immediate effect in the sample box.
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 entry fields, 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 factory default.

Keystroke display preferences is for setting to show, or not show the keystroke 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
Fonts These fonts preferences are essentially the same as that for the formatted display, they apply to entries to the algebraic window’s keystroke display field.

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

Figure 11.7: Algebraic window teleprompter preferences

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 11.8 shows memory monitor window preferences:

Figure 11.8: Memory monitor window preferences

Show memory monitor on startup checkbox
Deselect 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 options list:
- Labels checkbox
- Numbers checkbox - Exact quantities of memory, in Bytes, KBytes, or MBytes can be displayed, in addition to percentages for data items.
- Show largest available block checkbox
- Amalgamate used memory checkbox
Window appearance options list:
- Resizable window checkbox
- Horizontal window checkbox - If unselected, vertical window would be used.
- Show bars checkbox - If selected, proportional bars will be used to present data items, in addition to percentages, and numbers.
- Update data every... time interval pop-up menu

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 11.9 shows page window preferences:

Figure 11.9: 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.

Hint:

The page window would flash every time it is updated; the advantage of showing current contents is to be weighted against blinking or flashing of the display.

Preferences Window Preferences

Preferences window preferences are for restricting access to preferences settings, and saving of preference changes. Figure 11.10 shows preferences window preferences:

Figure 11.10: Preferences window preferences

Need password to access preferences checkbox

Need password to save preferences 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.

Structural Window Preference

The structural window preference is for setting defaults to present commutative relations either as flat tree structures, or as full-blown trees. The control is provided by the Combine commutative checkbox. Figure 11.11 shows structural window preference:

Figure 11.11: Structural window preference

Title Window Preference

One simple control is offered for the title window, by the Minimum number of available colours to justify using colour... number pop-up menu. Figure 11.12 shows title window preference:

Figure 11.12: Title window preferences

View Window Preferences

Controls cover the clipboard, view colours, information, ticks, view and zoom. Figure 11.13 shows view window preferences:

Figure 11.13: 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 11.14 shows the clipboard preference:

Figure 11.14: View window clipboard preference

Clipboard preference is provided by the Use ... bitmap in place of a picture checkbox and resolution pop-up menu. Select 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 elements added in with drawing tools.
View Window - Colours
Colours preferences are for setting default appearances, and colours and patterns for graph views. Figure 11.15 shows colour preferences:

Figure 11.15: View window colours preferences
- Display views in colour, if possible checkbox - If unselected on a colour system, GrafEq will display views in patterns.
- Blend layers checkbox - If unselected, colours or patterns will pile up in opaque layers.
- Colours list:
  - Background colour pop-up menu
  - Layer colours pop-up menus - The first 15 layers of default colours can be specified.
- Patterns list:
  - Background pattern pop-up menu
  - Layer patterns pop-up menus - The first 15 layers of default patterns can be specified.
View Window - Information
Information preferences are for setting updating frequency, and optional display data items for the view window’s information view buddy. Figure 11.16 shows information preferences:

Figure 11.16: View window information preferences
- Updates preference is for setting the time interval at which the display data selected are to be updated in the view window’s information view buddy. The preference is provided by the Update info every... time interval pop-up menu.
- Display Data preferences 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
  Refer to the View Buddy Floating Window chapter for detailed meaning and useful application of information display 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 11.17 shows information preferences:

Figure 11.17: View window ticks preferences
- Creation preference is for setting when to show newly created ticks in graph views. The preference is provided by the After creating a new view, display ticks... time pop-up menu, and
  the or... state pop-up menu. Displaying immediately might be convenient; displaying later might speed up graphing.
- Defaults preferences are for setting optional default components and default appearances of ticks in graph views. It starts with an attribute pop-up menu, from which marks, outline, or parameter displays can be set.
  Before going into details about these ticks preferences, following are some hints on the use of the tick preferences controls:
  - For expandable list menus, select the list checkbox to select all elements of the list, or expand lists (by clicking on the triangular arrow adjacent to the list name or the checkbox) to select individual elements, such as lines, ticks and axes, or domain and range, etc...
  - Deeper lists, such as the arrowheads and bounds lists, can be expanded further to deeper levels. For the case of arrowheads and bounds lists, each of domain and range lists can be further expanded to reveal the respecitve min and max elements, so each element can be selected individually.
  Defaults preferences are listed as follows:
  - Marks default components preferences lists:
    - Axes checkbox, and list which is expandable to the following:
      - Lines checkbox, and list which is expandable to Domain and Range checkboxes.
      - Ticks checkbox, and list which is expandable to Domain and Range checkboxes.
      - Arrowheads checkbox, and list which is expandable to Domain and Range checkboxes, and lists of which each is further expandable to Min and Max checkboxes.
    - Labels checkbox, and list which is expandable to the following:
      - Variables checkbox, and list which is expandable to Domain and Range checkboxes.
      - Bounds checkbox, and list which is expandable to Domain and Range checkboxes, and lists of which each is further expandable to Min and Max checkboxes.
    - Grids checkbox, and list which is expandable to Dots and Crosses checkboxes.
  - Outline preferences are for setting defaults to outline optional tick marks, and by what thickness. Options are listed as follows:
    - Outline... thickness pop-up menu
    - Axes checkbox, and list which is expandable to Lines, Ticks and Arrowheads checkboxes.
    - Labels checkbox, and list which is expandable to Variables and Bounds checkboxes.
    - Grids checkbox, and list which is expandable to Dots and Crosses checkboxes.
  - Parameter preferences are for setting default fault size and mark density, naturally by the Font Size and Mark Density pop-up menus,
View Window - View
View preferences are for setting

Figure 11.18: View window view preferences
- Size preference is for setting default view size, naturally by the Default view size... size pop-up menu.
- Calculation preferences are for setting rounding and real number representation rules, as listed following:
  - Perform arithmetic with outward rounding checkbox - If unselected, inward rounding would be used.
  - Use extra wide relations and intervals checkbox
- Refining preferences are for setting triggers to the graphing process and real number handling methods, as listed following:
  - Start graphing automatically checkbox - If unselected, GrafEq would wait for user command to start.
  - Perturb bounds checkbox - If selected, graphed lines will have uniform thickness. Every new view created has its bounds enlarged by about 0.01% of the view size, so that lines like x=0 will fall upon a column or row of pixels rather than in between two columns or rows.
View Window - Zoom
The Zoom preference is for setting defaults to keep or replace the original view on zooming, naturally by the Keep the old view after zooming checkbox. Figure 11.19 shows information preferences:

Figure 11.19: Algebraic window teleprompter preferences

Files Preferences

Files preferences are for controlling access to file loading and saving, 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

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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