_Next: [Hotkeys](hotkey.md)_

## Configuring Preferences

The user preferences file is created as `$HOME/.findnrunrc` on first run.

Users can specify an alternative preferences file from the shell command
line:

    env CONFIG="/my/findnrun/conf" /usr/bin/findnrun

### GUI Preferences

These values can be set also from the main window:
```gettext
    # Keep the main window open after activating an item.
    defOPEN=false
    # Show and cache all application icons.
    varICONS=false
    # Return keyboard focus to the search input field.
    varFOCUSSEARCH=true
```

### Hidden Preferences

These values aren't available from the main window. They are intended mostly for
power users and custom applications:
```gettext
    # Hotkey format: accel-mods':'key-sym':'accel-key
    # cf. https://github.com/01micko/gtkdialog/blob/wiki/menuitem.md
    # Pressing HOTKEY_F2 cycles keyboard input focus between the history field and the search input field.
    HOTKEY_F2=0:F2:0xffbf
    # Pressing HOTKEY_F3 starts the next available source plugin.
    HOTKEY_F3=0:F3:0xffc0
    # Pressing HOTKEY_F4 saves+filters search results (see XCLIP)
    HOTKEY_F4=0:F4:0xffc1
    # Pressing HOTKEY_F12 activates the top search result list item.
    HOTKEY_F12=0:F12:0xffc9
    # Icon cache location.
    ICONCACHE=${HOME}/.icons
    # Extend search subject to .desktop file names.
    # Subsumed by SEARCHCOMPLETE=true.
    SEARCHFILENAMES=false
    # Extend search subject to application comments.
    # Subsumed by SEARCHCOMPLETE=true.
    SEARCHCOMMENTS=false
    # Extend search subject to application categories.
    # Show category labels in the comment field.
    # Subsumed by SEARCHCOMPLETE=true.
    # Set 'hidden' to hide category labels in the comment field.
    # In search input field prepend ';' to search for category only, i.e., ';office'.
    SEARCHCATEGORIES=false
    # Search in application names, file names, command lines, comments and categories all at once.
    # When false and no other SEARCH* field is true search in application names only.
    # To search in, i.e., file names only set SEARCHCOMPLETE=false SEARCHFILENAMES=true.
    SEARCHCOMPLETE=true
    # Search pattern must match from the leftmost character.
    # Ignored for category search.
    SEARCHFROMLEFT=false
    # Search pattern is a POSIX Basic regular expression.
    # Applied also to comment search and category search.
    SEARCHREGEX=false
    # Enforce case-dependent searching.
    CASEDEPENDENT=false
    # Main window geometry, no default.
    # Command-line option --geometry=WxH+X+Y overrides this value.
    # Ignore the NoDisplay=true attribute value of .desktop files (not recommended).
    # Note: Versions up to 1.10.6 didn't have this setting and showed all files by default.
    SHOWNODISPLAY=false
    #GEOMETRY=460x280+100+200
    # Desktop file search directories, colon-separated list from system settings.
    # Recursively search folders and sub-folders.
    #DESKTOP_FILE_DIRS="$HOME/.local/share/applications:/usr/share/applications:+
    #  + /usr/local/share/applications"
    # Icon search directories, colon-separated list from system default settings.
    #ICON_DIRS="$HOME/.icons:$HOME/.local/icons:/usr/share/icons:+
    #  + /usr/local/share/icons:/usr/share/pixmaps:+
    #  + /usr/share/midi-icons:/usr/share/mini-icons"
    # Preferred help viewing program (obsolete since version 2.0.0).
    #BROWSER=
    # Set XCLIP to an alternative X clipboard copy/paste filter for hotkey F4.
    # Default value: the xclip binary file, if it's installed.
    # Use 'none' to disable clipboard copying; output is sent to stderr.
    # Piping and/or redirection are also supported, .i.e.,
    #   env XCLIP="|cut -f2 >/dev/stderr" findnrun &
    #   env XCLIP=">/tmp/myfile" findnrun &
    # Built-in sources honor this setting. Some plugins may not.
    #XCLIP=
    # Entering IBOL+IBOL makes the search input field ignore all characters to the left of IBOL+IBOL included. 
    # This is a reserved setting; do not edit it. If you accidentally do, delete the line and restart findnrun.
    IBOL=' '
```

### See Also

 * _Environment Variables_ in [Starting Findnrun](running.md).

_Next: [Hotkeys](hotkey.md)_
