The LFNAlias Preferences Dialog

	LFNAlias Version 1.0

User Guide

The LFNAlias Preferences Dialog

Fig. 2.1.1.2.2.1.0.200

The Preferences Dialog is the central configuration facility of the LFNAlias application. It combines all controls that determine the user specific configuration and behaviour of the LFNAlias application on its tab sheets. It is opened by selecting/clicking "Preferences..." in the Options Menu of the Main Window's Main Menu.

Dialog Caption
Fig. 2.1.1.2.2.1.0.201
Identifies the dialog as the LFNAlias dialog on/with which user specific preferences can be configured. Note, that the caption fades into the background after a few seconds but can be made to reapear by moving the mouse over the area in which the caption and icon are located.

Application ("App.") Icon
Fig. 2.1.1.2.2.1.0.202
Helps to quickly identify to which application the dialog belongs.

Tabs and Tab Sheets
Fig. 2.1.1.2.2.1.0.203

The Tabs
Fig. 2.1.1.2.2.1.0.204
The Tabs serve to identify the indiwidual group of configurable options and the tab sheets themselves. They also open the respective tab sheet below it, when clicked with the mouse or when the first letter of a tab sheet's caption is pressed in combination with the `Alt` key. For example, pressing the `e` and `Alt` keys on the keyboard simultaneously will open the Editor Tab Sheet. However, it should be borne in mind that using keyboard shortcuts, such as `Alt` + `e`, to open a tab sheet also requires that the Preferences Dialog has the. input focus.

The Tabs

Fig. 2.1.1.2.2.1.0.204

The Tabs serve to identify the indiwidual group of configurable options and the tab sheets themselves. They also open the respective tab sheet below it, when clicked with the mouse or when the first letter of a tab sheet's caption is pressed in combination with the Alt key. For example, pressing the e and Alt keys on the keyboard simultaneously will open the Editor Tab Sheet. However, it should be borne in mind that using keyboard shortcuts, such as Alt + e, to open a tab sheet also requires that the Preferences Dialog has the. input focus.

The Tab Sheets with Configuration Controls
Fig. 2.1.1.2.2.1.0.205
The actual tab sheet is the area immediately below and seamlessly connected to the tab. It contains the controls with which the configurable options of the respective category (specified in the tab's caption) can be modified.

The General Tab Sheet
Fig. 2.1.1.2.2.1.0.210
The General Tab Sheet contains two important options of a general nature that do not merit their own tab sheets. Specifically these are the Autocomplete functionality of the Folder/File Path and Name Combo Box and the setting that determines if per default file system redirection is enabled for new LFNAlias processes or not. These are described immediately below.
The controls on the General Tab Sheet can be accessed by means of simultaneously pressing the `Alt` and `g` keys on the keyboard or clicking on the General tab. The General Tab Sheet is also the tab sheet that is displayed per default when the Preferences Dialog is opened.

The Autocomplete Drop Down List/Selector
Fig. 2.1.1.2.2.1.0.220
The Autocomplete Drop Down List/Selector determines whether or not, per default, the functionality that automatically completes paths and/or file names in the Main Window's Folder/File Path and Name Combo Box is turned on or off. When On is selected in this control, the autocomplete functionality is always turned on when the application starts. In this case, LFNAlias either displays a list of paths/file names that would complete the already entered portion, in its drop down list, or it may complete the entered text directly. Note, changes made to this selector only affect new LFNAlias processes, they do not change the current settings. The LFNAlias default for this feature is off, as in Fig. 2.1.1.2.2.1.0.220.

The Autocomplete Drop Down List/Selector

Fig. 2.1.1.2.2.1.0.220

The Autocomplete Drop Down List/Selector determines whether or not, per default, the functionality that automatically completes paths and/or file names in the Main Window's Folder/File Path and Name Combo Box is turned on or off. When On is selected in this control, the autocomplete functionality is always turned on when the application starts. In this case, LFNAlias either displays a list of paths/file names that would complete the already entered portion, in its drop down list, or it may complete the entered text directly. Note, changes made to this selector only affect new LFNAlias processes, they do not change the current settings.

The LFNAlias default for this feature is off, as in Fig. 2.1.1.2.2.1.0.220.

The File System Redirection Drop Down List/Selector


Fig. 2.1.1.2.2.1.0.230	Fig. 2.1.1.2.2.1.0.231	Fig. 2.1.1.2.2.1.0.232

Determines whether or not file system redirection is, per default, en- or disabled for new LFNAlias processes.

Note, this option is only available when LFNAlias is running under 64-bit operating system versions. Otherwise, the File System Redirection Drop Down List/Selector is disabled and blank as in Fig. 2.1.1.2.2.1.0.210 and Fig. 2.1.1.2.2.1.0.230.

If this selector is set to and reads "Enabled", file system redirection is active and the operating system will redirect the paths of certain files and folders to the corresponding files and folders reserved for 32-bit processes, when LFNAlias is opened. This is both, the operating system and the LFNAlias default, when running under a 64-bit Windows version.

Conversely, if the selector is set to "Disabled" (as in Fig. 2.1.1.2.2.1.0.232), LFNAlias can access the 64-bit version of these files and folders.

Note also, changes to this selector only affect new LFNAlias processes and therefore have no effect on the settings for the current process. In other words, any changes made in the Preferences Dialog will not modify the current settings applicable to the current process in the File System Redirection sub-menu of the Main Menu's Options Menu.

The Editor Tab Sheet
Fig. 2.1.1.2.2.1.0.250
The Editor Tab Sheet contains the controls necessary to modify the integrated editor's default settings. It is opened by simultaneously pressing the `Alt` and `e` keys on the keyboard, while the Preferences Dialog is open and has the input focus or clicking on the Editor tab at the top of the tab sheet.

The Default Output File Combo Box


Fig. 2.1.1.2.2.1.0.255		Fig. 2.1.1.2.2.1.0.256

The path and name of the file in the edit field of this combo box is the file that is automatically loaded into the Output Editor when a new instance of LFNAlias is opened. If the combo box's edit field is left empty or the the last entry from its drop down list is selected ("<Do not load a file during startup>"), LFNAlias will create a new output file during startup.

Per default LFNAlias does not load a file when the application is opened and the Default Output File Combo Box is therefore empty as in Fig. 2.1.1.2.2.1.0.255.

The Select Default Output File Button
Fig. 2.1.1.2.2.1.0.257
Opens the Select Default Output File Dialog, with which a file can be selected the path and name of which will be entered into the Default Output File Combo Box when the Select Default Output File Dialog is closed by means of its Open Button.

The Zoom Factor Drop Down List/Selector
Fig. 2.1.1.2.2.1.0.258
The Zoom Factor Selector determines with which default magnification the text in the Output Editor is displayed. Per default LFNAlias uses the 11 point ^1 Tahoma font^2 in the Output Editor. This equates to a character height of 8 pixels^3, for capital characters, on computer screens configured to use a resolution of 96 dpi (dots per inch) and 10 pixels^3, on screens with a resolution of 120 dpi. Thus, if set to 100% (as depicted in Fig. 2.1.1.2.2.1.0.258), when a new instance of LFNAlias is opened it will display the text in the Output Editor in the sizes just described. Correspondingly, if set to the maximum possible magnification of 200%, it will display capital characters at twice their normal size (16 pixels and 20 pixels, respectively, at screen resolutions of 96 and 120 dpi). When set to 50%, at half their normal size, and so on.

The Zoom Factor Drop Down List/Selector

Fig. 2.1.1.2.2.1.0.258

The Zoom Factor Selector determines with which default magnification the text in the Output Editor is displayed.

Per default LFNAlias uses the 11 point ^*1 Tahoma font^*2 in the Output Editor. This equates to a character height of 8 pixels^*3, for capital characters, on computer screens configured to use a resolution of 96 dpi (dots per inch) and 10 pixels^*3, on screens with a resolution of 120 dpi.

Thus, if set to 100% (as depicted in Fig. 2.1.1.2.2.1.0.258), when a new instance of LFNAlias is opened it will display the text in the Output Editor in the sizes just described. Correspondingly, if set to the maximum possible magnification of 200%, it will display capital characters at twice their normal size (16 pixels and 20 pixels, respectively, at screen resolutions of 96 and 120 dpi). When set to 50%, at half their normal size, and so on.

The Dialogs Tab Sheet

Fig. 2.1.1.2.2.1.0.270

The check boxes on the Dialogs Tab Sheet control if and which dialog boxes are displayed when

•	a new output file is about to be created, but the current output file hasn't been saved yet
•	you are about to load a file into the Output Editor and the currently open file has been modified but hasn't been saved yet
•	the current instance of LFNAlias is about to be closed, but the contents of the Output Editor have not been saved
•	LFNAlias is about to access the Internet

Per default, all these check boxes are checked and LFNAlias displays a dialog box in all these cases.

Note, that while it is possible to suppress the display of these dialog boxes on the dialog boxes themselves, they do not provide the means to revert the suppression. This can only be done on this, the Dialogs Tab Sheet.

The Dialogs Tab Sheet is opened by clicking on the Dialogs Tab or simultaneously pressing the Alt and d keys on the keyboard while the Preferences Dialog is open and has the input focus.

The 8.3 Dialogs Tab Sheet

Fig. 2.1.1.2.2.1.0.280

Contains the check boxes that determine which (if any) dialog boxes are displayed when changes are made to the Windows, short, DOS, 8.3 file/folder name support on local NTFS drives/volumes.

Per default (in which case the check boxes contain a check mark, as depicted in Fig. 2.1.1.2.2.1.0.280), LFNAlias displays a warning in form of a dialog box when

•	you are about to deactivate the support for short, 8.3/DOS names on all local drives/volumes
•	you are about to deactivate the support for short, 8.3/DOS names on all local drives/volumes except for the system drive/volume

LFNAlias also displays an information dialog box during application startup, when it detects that support for short, 8.3/DOS has been partially or completely disabled on the the system on which it is running.

Note, that while it is possible to prevent all these dialog boxes from being shown by checking the "Don't show me this message again" check boxes on the dialog boxes themselves, it is only possible to restore the default settings (which is checked, as shown in Fig. 2.1.1.2.2.1.0.280) for one or all of these dialog boxes, by checking the check box for the respective dialog box on this, the 8.3 Dialogs Tab Sheet.

To open the 8.3 Dialogs Tab Sheet, simply press the Alt and 8 keys on the keyboard (simultaneously) or click on the 8.3 Dialogs Tab at the top of the tab sheet.

The Notification Tab Sheet

Fig. 2.1.1.2.2.1.0.290

On this tab sheet you can activate and deactivate the notifications (also know as "bubble help" messages) that are displayed when LFNAlias detects that an

•	invalid or inaccessible path was entered in the Folder/File Path and Name Combo Box
•	the syntax of an entered or dropped path is invalid or contains characters that are not permissible in Windows (and/or DOS) paths
•	an invalid character or line number (e.g. a line number that is larger than the total number of lines in the Output Editor) is entered in the Line Number Combo Box
•	the line number to be displayed in the Line Text Preview Field does not contain visible/printable text or no text at all

Per default LFNAlias displays a bubble help message in all these cases and the respective check boxes on this tab sheet are all checked, as in Fig. 2.1.1.2.2.1.0.290.

The Notification Tab Sheet can be accessed by simultaneously pressing the Alt and n keys on the keyboard or clicking on the Notifications tab.

The OK Button
Fig. 2.1.1.2.2.1.0.297
The OK button closes the Preferences Dialog, saving any changes that were made to the LFNAlias configuration.

The Restore Defaults Button
Fig. 2.1.1.2.2.1.0.298
Restores the state of all controls on all Preferences Dialog Tab Sheets to the LFNAlias defaults. However, the thus restored default settings are not saved/preserved unless the Preferences Dialog is subsequently closed by means of its OK Button. In other words, the unmodified, previous settings (in as far as they deviate from the LFNAlias defaults) will be retained and remain in effect, if the dialog is closed by either the Cancel Button or by other means (e.g. pressing the Alt + F4 keys).

The Restore Defaults Button

Fig. 2.1.1.2.2.1.0.298

Restores the state of all controls on all Preferences Dialog Tab Sheets to the LFNAlias defaults. However, the thus restored default settings are not saved/preserved unless the Preferences Dialog is subsequently closed by means of its OK Button. In other words, the unmodified, previous settings (in as far as they deviate from the LFNAlias defaults) will be retained and remain in effect, if the dialog is closed by either the Cancel Button or by other means (e.g. pressing the Alt + F4 keys).

The Cancel Button
Fig. 2.1.1.2.2.1.0.299
The Cancel button closes the Preferences Dialog, discarding any changes that may have been made to the configuration, since the dialog was opened.

Footnotes
*1	A "point" being the typographical unit of measure.
*2	Provided, the Tahoma True Type Font (.ttf) is installed. Otherwise, Windows will use a font with characteristics as close as possible to the Tahoma font and the displayed sizes may deviate from those specified.
*3	The height in pixels, in this case, being the effective character height. That is, the height not including the internal leading.

Topic Hierarchy: LFNAlias • Support • User Guide • Table of Contents • Description • Preferences Dialog