7  Preferences

In the preferences tab a lot of settings are possible, so let’s start from top:

7.1 Environment

• Line Select Exif Data Directory
  Here, please select the directory where the PFotos EXIF data files shall be stored or are stored.
  This implies that there might be different data directories, in case of need.
  The generation of a new directory from the selection dialog depends on the operating system.
  It should be possible on Microsoft Windows. On Linux and MacOS a new directory entry shall be done outside the PFotos application.
  The selected directory is shown right hand of the button, where the path can also be edited.

• Line Select ExifTool
  Here, please select the executable for the exiftool. The selected executable is shown right hand of the button, where the path can also be edited.

• Line Select ExifToolGUI Here, please select the executable for the ExifToolGUI.
  The selected executable is shown right hand of the button, where the path can also be edited.

• Line Select Image Viewer
  Select an image viewer on Microsoft Windows and Linux platforms.
  For MacOS , the default method open is the best selection and can simply be confirmed, but on Linux the system’s default method xdg-open refers to the MIME-settings for the different image types which may lead to some strange results for RAW images, such, it is recommended to select your preferred image viewer hopefully capable to show all your cameras’ RAW images.
  The selected image viewer respectively the selected open method is shown right hand of the button.

• Button Set System Default Viewer
  Set the open method for images to the system’s default. The result is shown right hand of the Select Image Viewer button.

• Button Back to PFotos Defaults
  This button resets some central settings to predefined defaults like the Exif Data directory, the Image Viewer, the Background Color and the Font Size and the histogram bin settings.

• Button Cancel
  Discards all changes in the settings and returns to the Cams & Lenses tab.

• Button Apply
  Applies all changes in the settings and returns to the Cams & Lenses tab.

7.2 Localization, User Interface and pre-defined filters

• Radio Buttons Select Language
  Select the language for the entire user interface.

• Entry line Directory filter
  Define here a list of directories from which files shall be excluded from the selection on request. Please separate the entries by white spaces.

• Entry line File name filter
  Define here a list of file names (file root names or parts of root names without extensions) which file names shall be excluded from the selection on request.
  Please separate the entries by white spaces.

• Entry line File type filter
  Define here a list of file types (extensions) which files shall be excluded from the selection on request.
  Please define entries always with the leading . and separate the entries by white spaces.

• Entry line Maximum images to show in tiled selection
  Define here the maximum number of images to be shown in the new tiled selection viewer.
  The default value is 40, which is a good number to start with.
  If the number of selected images exceeds this value the selection window will be displayed with a list of simple buttons and only one thumbnail will be generated at a time.
  The input value in this entry shall be a positive number limited to 100000.

• Entry line Number of columns for tiled selection
  Define here the number of columns the thumbnail tiles shall be presented.
  The input value in this entry shall be a positive number limited to 32.

• Radio Buttons Background color
  Select the background color of the entire user interface.
  The selection influences complete color schemes to provide good visibility of all information.

• The radio button Custom refers to the user selected colors which can be adjusted with the two buttons Set Foreground Color and Set Background Color below.
  The currently defined selection is shown on the label Foreground Color on Background Color.
  Note: Take care for good visibility of the custom selected colors; we do not avoid selecting ”black on black” or ”white on white”….
  But you’re not lost: Control elements will possibly be unreadable but when you move the mouse pointer over them, they’ll get highlighted and thus readable.
  In case of a ”white on white” scenario again navigate to the preferences tab and select one of the pre-defined color schemes.
  Note: Since the apperance and operation of the color selector differs very strong between the different operating systems, we provide no description here.

• Radio Buttons Column Width
  Sets the available length for the histogram bars. 10 shortest; 30 longest.

• Radio Buttons Width of Lens text
  Sets the limit for lens descriptions in the Lenses histogram bin.
  The reason is that lens descriptions by the manufacturers may get very long.
  25 shortest; 50 longest.
  When a lens description is clipped according to the selected setting, the full imformation is shown when the mouse cursor is put on the clipped text.

• Radio Buttons Height of Time Histogram
  Sets the maximum height for the time histogram bars. 6 shortest; 18 longest.

• Radio Buttons Time Histogram Color table
  Selects a color table for the time histogram bars. Check out your preferred one. (red is nice)

• Menu Button Font Size:
  Select the font size for all text outputs in the user interface.
  The selected font size is shown on the button.
  Note: All selections will get effective after pressing the Apply button.

7.3 Information selection

• Radio Buttons Cams & Lenses Window and Image Data Window
  Select the information bins to be displayed in the main tabs.

• Histogram Bin Breakup
  Radio Buttons for breakup settings of the numerical histogram slots for ISO, Aperture, Exposure Time, Focal Length (35mm) and Focal Length.
  Please check what suits your desires best.