# Configuring P4V preferences

To configure settings for P4V, choose Tools>Preferences... The Preferences dialog is displayed. You can specify the following settings.

## General tab

- Date format: Select one of the following options for the date format used in P4V
  - Use OS format for dates: same format your operating system uses.
  - Format dates using Perforce standard: yyyy/mm/dd hh:mm:ss.
- Log options: select the following options for storing log output while using P4V.
  - Log all: enables logging of all server activity.
  - Enable logging to file: specify if you want P4V activity logged to a file.
  - Name: specifies the name and location of the log file.
  - Size: specifies the maximum size of the log file.
- Enable diff2 on file-to-file drag and drop: launches the diff utility when you drop a file on another file.
- Enable integration on directory-to-directory drag and drop: launches the integration dialog when you drop a folder on another folder.
- Warn before reverting files: select this option to have P4V warn you whenever you are reverting files.

## Connection tab

When the application launches: Specify how the active server and workspace are displayed when you start P4V:

- Show the Perforce Connection dialog: displays the Perforce Connection dialog, from which you can specify the desired connection settings.
- Restore the last Perforce workspaces used: connect to the last- used server and open the last-used workspace.
- Open the client workspace that matches your Perforce environment settings: use the server and workspace specified by your environment settings.

When connecting to a server: Specify password and login preferences.

- Show Remember Password dialog. For 2003.2 or earlier servers, specify whether you want P4V to prompt you to remember your password.
- Show Login Expiration dialog. For 2004.2 or later servers, specify if you want P4V to your login expiration.

Data retrieval: You can specify how much data P4V processes during your session.

- Check server for updates every n minutes: specifies how often P4V checks the server for updated file information. Frequent checks enable P4V to display current file status but increase workload on the Perforce server.
- Maximum number of files displayed per changelist: specifies the maximum number of files displayed in a changelist, to help minimize the time required to handle and submit very large changelists. This setting affects only the display of changelists, and does not limit the number of files that a changelist can contain.
- Maximum size of file to preview: limits the size of image files displayed in the Preview tab on the Files pane, to limit the amount of image data sent from the Perforce server to P4V.
- Number of list entries to fetch at a time: specifies the maximum number of files for which information is retrieved from the server, to help minimize the time it takes P4V to start up. The most recent entries are retrieved. To retrieve all entries, specify 0.

## Editor tab

Enables you to specify the editor to be launched for specific file types.

To assign an editor to specific file types:

1. Click Add.
2. In the Extension pull-down menu, either type in the extension or select it from the list.
3. In the Application field, browse to the program to use to edit files with that extension and click Open.
   Note: If you know the path to the application, you can also type it into this field.
4. Click Open. The extension and associated application are displayed in the list of editors.
5. If you want P4V to always use this application for this file extension, click the Always use the selected application to open files of this type checkbox. Once this is checked, you can double-click a file of that extension and P4V will use that editor to open it.
6. Click Save.
7. If you wish to change an application association, select it from the list and click Edit.... If you would like to remove it, click Remove.
8. Click OK to save your entries.

## Diff tab

Enables you to specify which application(s) P4V uses when diffing files. In addition to selecting a default diff application, you can also assign diff applications to use with specific extensions.

To assign a default diff application:

1. Select one of the following options:

- Use P4V's diff tool. This is the recommended diff tool to use with P4V.
- Use external application. Browse to the application that you wish to use when diffing files.

2. Click OK to save your entries.

To assign diff applications by extension:

1. Click Add.
2. In the Extension pull-down menu, either type in the extension or select it from the list.
3. Browse to the program to use to diff files with that extension and click Open.
4. Click Save. The extension and associated application are displayed in the list of diff applications.
5. If you wish to change a diff application association, click Edit.... If you would like to remove it, click Remove.
6. Click OK to save your entries.

## Merge tab

Enables you to specify a default application for P4V to use when merging files.

To assign a default merge application:

1. Select one of the following options:

- Use P4V's merge tool. This is the recommended merge tool to use with P4V.
- Use external application. Browse to the application that you wish to use when merging files.

2. Click OK to save your entries.

## Font tab

Enables you to specify which font P4V uses for viewing files within P4V.

To choose a specific viewing font:

1. Use the pull-down menus to select the Font, Font Style, and font Size.
   Note: You will see a preview of the font that you have selected in the Sample field.
2. If you wish to return to the default font, click Reset.
3. Click OK to save your selections.