You can change the setting of all the Preference options in Preferences or by using a text editor to modify the PB.INI file.  You can also change options, which can be set in a painter, by changing the setting of the option in the painter.

Preference Item	Description
DBParm	Database dependent.
DisplayComments	Option to display the comments associated with a library or library entry in the Library Painter.  The default is 0, do not display comments.  If the option is 1, PowerBuilder displays the comments.
ListUserObjects	Option to display the User Object icons for frequently used user objects in the toolbox and on the Objects Menu of the Window and User Objects Painters. The default is 0, do not display the icons and menu items; 1 is display the display the icons and menu items.
Status	Option to display the Selected Object Status window in the DataWindow Painter. The default is 0, do not display the Select Object Status window; 1 is show the Select Object Status window.  This is a DataWindow Painter Preference item and is set when you click Show Status in the DataWindow Painter Design Menu.
StayConnected	Option to start the database transaction the first time a painter requests it and close the transaction only when you exit PowerBuilder.  The default is1 stay connected, 0 is close the transaction when you leave the painter.
TableDir	Displays only if ListUserObject variable is 1.  Option to suppress display of the table list.  When TableDir is 1 (the default), PowerBuilder automatically lists the tables in the current database when you open the Database Painter.  When TableDir is 0, PowerBuilder does not display the table list when you open the painter  To open a database table when TableDir is 0, click the Tables icon .  A dialog box displays, enter the name of the database table you want to open and click Open.
UserID	The user ID used for check in/out in the Library Painter.  UserID is a Library Painter Preference item that is set in the library Painter the first time you check out an object.
UserObjectn	The name of your default user objects.  You can have as many as four default user objects (n represents the number assigned to  the user object 1 to 4).  PowerBuilder creates a default user object the first four times you place a user object in a window or another user object.  The name of the object displays in the Objects menu and an icon representing the object displays in the Window Painter and User Object toolboxes. UserObjectn are Window Painter Preference items that are set in the Window Painter or the User Object Painter.
VariablesWindow	Option to display the Variables window in the Debug.  The default is 0, do not display the Variables window; 1 is show the Variables window.  This is a Debug Preference item and is set in Debug when you click the Show\Hide Variables icon in the toolbox or Show/Hide Variables in the Debug Menu.
WatchWindow	Option to display the Watch window in Debug.  The default is 0, do not display the Watch window; 1 is show the Watch window.  This is a Debug Preference item and is set in Debug when you click the Show\Hide Watch icon in the toolbox or Show/Hide Watch in the Debug Menu.