To open the view, choose Window > Show View > Other, from the list select category Preferences and view Preferences

The main part of this view has two tabs with tables. First one, named "Folder", contains a table with preferences stored in selected folder. Second one, "Platform", contains preferences for running Eclipse platform. Table has two columns, Key and Value. Double click some item in "Value" column to edit it. Key changing is not supported, you need to remove old and create new one. Top level nodes in tree view mode and name preffix in flat mode contains bundle id for folder preferences. For platform preferences, it's preffixed with preference scope, like /configuration/x.y.z. If you want to read more about preferences and scopes, please refer this tutorial.

There's no working copy/dirty state used. Your changes are immediately saved to preference file or platform preferences node.

The main purpose of this plugin is debugging Eclipse plugins you create. While changing preferences for someone else's plugins, please be sure you know what you do - preferences are inner stuff for plugins, and their values are usually assumed to be correct, with no additional checks being done for preference values.

This editor is provided "AS IS", with absolutely no warranty. Author is not responsible for any software problems, data loss etc. caused by it's usage.

"Folder"/"Offline" mode is supposed to be used e.g. when you want to edit some preferences before launching platform or when you can't/don't want to install editor plugin into host platform. "Platform"/"Online" mode is supposed to be used when you e.g. want to change preference values directly in running Eclipse App, e.g. while debugging or testing some functionality using these preferences.

In "Folder" mode, use "Open Preferences" action to open some folder with preferences. Dialog would be opened, in which you can coose some previously selected location using combo or choose new location using links:

1. From folder - choose folder containing *.prefs files inside
2. From workspace prefs - choose workspace folder to edit it's workspace-level prefs. Subfolder would be chosen automatically
3. From installation - choose existing Eclipse/RCP app installation to edit it's config level preferences
4. From launch config - choose Eclipse launch configuration and edit it config preferences from debug config area

For all options except 1 view will try to locate preference folder for chosen workspace/installation/launch cfg and would remember it's location.

You can use dropdown for this action to choose one of the previously selected folders

From "Platform" mode, use "Show Read-Only nodes" action (icon with crossed pencil) to show read-only default and bundle defaults preferences

"Collapse All" - collapses all expanded nodes

"Track" (icon with glasses) - toggle watching preference changes and updating tree if they happened

Use "Reload" action to reload preference values from current folder

Use "Toggle hierarchical/flat view" to view preference entries either as a tree with bundle id's being first level nodes or as flat list with items like "bundle.id/key=value" You can use "Collapse All" action in tree mode to collapse all expanded subtrees.

Use "Add" (plus button) to add new preference. In "Folder" mode you need to specify parent node/bundle for it (required), if "Platform" mode you need to select preference scope (Cofiguration, Instance, Default or Bundle Defaults) using radio buttons additionally. Also you should enter preference key (required) and it's value. In "Folder" mode if preference file for parent bundle does not exist, it would be created.

Use "Remove preference" (red cross button) to remove either preference key-value pair or whole node/bundle preference file. Removing file needs approval.

Use "Copy" action to copy node/bundle id or preference key to clipboard

Right-click a preference or preference node to see context meny, from which you can add preference, and also

• "Copy key/name" - copy preference key/name to clipboard
• "Copy value" - copy preference value to clipboard
• "Edit value..." (for key-value pairs only) - edit value in dialog with multiline text editor. Convenient for editing long/multiline values
• "Export prefs" (for preference nodes, avail only in Hierarchical view) - export whole node to file. By default, file will have name of exported node and extensions .prefs (e.g. org.eclipse.jdt.ui.prefs)