# Settings

To configure &app;, choose Edit Preferences.... The Preferences dialog contains the following categories:

## Usage

This category contains preferences relevant to the general usage of &app;. It has the following subcategories:

### Find

Enable autocompletion

  If this box is checked, &app; will attempt to complete the text as you type it into text entry fields such as family name, place of birth, etc. Completion is attempted based on the match between the beginning of the text being typed and the corresponding data already stored in the database.

### Report Preferences

Preferred text format

  Select the preferred format for text reports from the available formats listed in this menu.

Preferred graphical format

  Select the preferred format for graphical reports from the available formats listed in this menu.

Preferred paper size

  Select the preferred paper size used for reports from the available sizes listed in this menu.

Default report directory

  Choose the default directory for the reports using the Browse... button or type it in the text entry field.

Default web site directory

  Choose the default directory for the web site using the Browse... button or type it in the text entry field.

### Researcher Information

Researcher information

  Enter your personal information in the corresponding text entry fields. Although &app; requests information about you, this information is used only so that &app; can create valid GEDCOM output files. A valid GEDCOM file requires information about the file's creator. If you choose, you may leave the information empty, however none of your exported GEDCOM files will be valid.

### Data Guessing

Family name guessing

  This option affects the initial family name of a child when he/she is added to the database. NOTE: this option only affects the initial family name guessed by &app; when the Edit Person dialog is launched. You can modify that name the way you see fit. Set this option to the value that you will most frequently use, as it will save you a lot of typing.

  If None is selected, no guessing will be attempted. Selecting Father's surname will use the family name of the father. Selecting Combination of mother's and father's surname will use the father's name followed by the mother's name. Finally, Icelandic style will use the father's given name followed by the "sson" suffix (e.g. the son of Edwin will be guessed as Edwinsson).

## Display

This category contains preferences relevant to displaying database records and controls in &app;. It has the following subcategories:

### General

Default view

  This determines which view will appear when you start &app;. Choose between Person and Family views.

Family view style

  This selects between the two available styles of the Family view layout. The Left to right style is similar to the Family Tree Maker (tm), while the Top to bottom is similar to the Reunion.

Always display the LDS ordinance tabs

  Check this box to have LDS ordinance tabs displayed. If you do not know what LDS is then you probably should not check it.

Show index numbers in child list

  This option is not currently implemented.

### Dates and Calendar

Display: Date format

  Select the display format for the dates from the available formats listed in this menu.

Name format

  Select the display format for the names from the available formats listed in this menu.

Entry: Date format

  Select the entry format for the dates from the available formats listed in this menu.

Show calendar format selection menu

  Check this box to enable the calendar format selection menu when you are entering dates in the Event Editor dialog. This will allow you to select different calendars when editing the dates.

### Toolbar and Statusbar

Toolbar

  Select the desired appearance of the toolbar icons from the menu. Selecting GNOME Settings will use the overall settings selected for your GNOME desktop.

Statusbar

  Select the desired contents displayed in the statusbar using the radio buttons.

## Database

This category contains preferences relevant to the database itself. It has the following subcategories:

### General

Automatically load last database

  Check this box to automatically load the last open database on startup.

Do not compress XML data file

  Check this box to disable compression of the XML data file. Compression significantly reduces the file size. While it creates an overhead in performance (some processor cycles must be spent to decompress the file before use), this overhead is extremely small. Now that the compression-related bugs have long been fixed, there is virtually no reason to disable data file compression.

Autosave interval

  Set the interval (in minutes) after which &app; will automatically save your database. Setting the interval to zero (0) disables autosaving.

Default database directory

  Choose the default directory in which &app; starts looking when saving the database using the Browse... or type its path into the text entry field.

### Media Objects

Before describing preferences for media objects, let us review the background on local and non-local objects. A local object is the object whose file is stored inside the same directory in which the &app; database file resides. A non-local object is stored elsewhere, so that the database has only the reference to the file's location and some records of the object's properties.

You may choose to store your media objects either locally or externally. Making your objects local will increase the amount of disk space consumed by the &app; database directory. However, if the external file is deleted or removed, &app; will still be able to use the local copy. In contrast, leaving your objects non-local will decrease the disk space requirements. However, losing the original file will render your media object unusable.

Note that exporting your database to any format will compile all medial objects, no matter whether they are local or not. Specifically, export to gramps package will include all the media object files in the package and change the references accordingly. Export to CD will copy all media object files to the directory under the burn:/// location in Nautilus and change the references accordingly. Finally, export to GEDCOM will place all media object files next to the GEDCOM file with the appropriate changes in the path names.

Drag and drop from an external source

  Choose between a reference and a local copy made when the object is dropped into the gallery. The reference saves disk space as it does not copy the object. The local copy makes your database portable as it does not depend on an external file. Consult your needs to make best choice.

  Check the Display global properties editor when object is dropped box to invoke the global properties editor after you drop an external object into the gallery.

Drag and drop from an internal source

  Check the Display local properties editor when object is dropped box to invoke the local properties editor after you drop an internal object into the gallery.

### GRAMPS internal IDs

GRAMPS ID prefixes

  Enter ID prefixes for various kinds of database entries into the corresponding text entry fields.

Allow internal GRAMPS ID numbers to be edited

  Check this box to enable editing of the internal &app; ID numbers. Unless you know what you are doing, leave it unchecked.

### Revision Control

Use revision control

  Check this box to enable &app; to use the revision control system for your database. If you choose this option, select the particular revision control system from the menu.

Prompt for comment on save

  Check this box to instruct &app; to prompt you to enter the comment when you save the database.