Some behaviors of OS X Helix applications can be changed by setting preference values. These are semi-documented settings that are mostly designed to aid in the transition from Classic Helix to OS X.

Currently most of these preferences can only be set by editing a preference file directly. A future release will bring all of the preferences into the standard interface.

OS X Helix application preferences are stored in an XML formatted plist named com.qsatoolworks.helixapplication (where application is either server, engine, client, or rade) found in the user's ~/Library/Preferences/ folder.

The preference files can be edited with any XML editor. If you have installed Apple's Developer tools, you have their Property List Editor application and double clicking on the Helix Server preference file should launch it automatically. If you have installed the developer tools, we assume you don't need instructions on using Property List Editor.

All OS X installations include the Terminal application (in the Utilities folder), so the following instructions explain how to change preferences using Terminal.

To change a setting, make sure the OS X Helix application is not running, then open the Terminal application (/Applications/Utilities/) and enter a command in this format:
defaults write com.qsatoolworks.helixserver keyword -datatype value
The underlined words must be replaced with appropriate values taken from the chart found in the built-in help for your version of Helix Server. These three values represent the preference to be changed for the word keyword, the type of data required by the preference for the word datatype and the value to set the preference to for the word value.

Note: Keywords are case sensitive! If you enter a value with the wrong case, it will not cause a problem, but the entry has no effect on Helix's behavior.

QSA ToolWorks has created a simple AppleScript applet that you can use to edit most of these preferences. You can download it here. Updated Jan 13, 2012: added HxListPageCacheSize & HxTcpUsePort preferences.

To use this tool, simply double click the applet and follow the built-in prompts.

Note: This applet does not check your input to make sure you are entering logical values. If you enter text in a preference that expects an boolean, the applet will not warn you, and Helix may behave unpredictably. (When things go wrong, the Default button restored Helix's default behavior.) Likewise, if you specify a setting outside a preferences's accepted a range of values, the applet will not complain, and Helix's behavior is unpredictable.

In short: Use this tool with caution and make sure you know what you are doing!

Until we are able to add a reasonable user interface, please refer to this page for information on what each does.

* In place of a hex string, the following standard color names may be used. When entering a multi-word color name, enclose it in single quotes. (e.g. 'cadet blue'):

aquamarine, black, blue, blue violet, brown, cadet blue, coral, cornflower blue, cyan, dark gray, dark green, dark olive green, dark orchid, dark slate blue, dark slate gray dark turquoise, dim gray, firebrick, forest green, gold, goldenrod, gray, green, green yellow, indian red, khaki, light blue, light gray, light steel blue, lime green, magenta, maroon, medium aquamarine, medium blue, medium forest green, medium goldenrod, medium orchid, medium sea green, medium slate blue, medium spring green, medium turquoise, medium violet red, midnight blue, navy, orange, orange red, orchid, pale green, pink, plum, purple, red, salmon, sea green, sienna, sky blue, slate blue, spring green, steel blue, tan, thistle, turquoise, violet, violet red, wheat, white, yellow, and yellow green.