# %WIKITOOLNAME% Site-Level Preferences
This topic defines **_site-level_** settings that apply to all users and webs on this [[TWikiSite]].
**_%X% Note:_** This topic should be regarded as read-only, so that upgrades can safely overwrite it without risk to your customizations.
Preference settings local to your site should be set in [[Main.TWikiPreferences|Main/TWikiPreferences]] (this topic is pointed to by \{LocalSitePreferences\}, which is set by the admin in the [configure](http://www.dementia.org/twiki/configure) interface). Settings in [[Main.TWikiPreferences|Main/TWikiPreferences]] will override settings in this topic, and should be used for defining custom settings and variables.
[[Read more|Main/TWikiVariables#PreferencesVariables]] on how to set Preferences Variables.
%RED% red text %ENDCOLOR% and %GREEN% green text %ENDCOLOR%
You get:
%RED% red text %ENDCOLOR% and %GREEN% green text %ENDCOLOR%
- **_Note:_** `%%` text must end with `%ENDCOLOR%`. If you want to switch from one color to another one you first need to end the active color with `%ENDCOLOR%`, e.g. write `%RED% some text %ENDCOLOR% %GREEN% more text %ENDCOLOR%`.
- %YELLOW% **Set YELLOW = looks like this** %ENDCOLOR%
- %ORANGE% **Set ORANGE = looks like this** %ENDCOLOR%
- %RED% **Set RED = looks like this** %ENDCOLOR%
- %PINK% **Set PINK = looks like this** %ENDCOLOR%
- %PURPLE% **Set PURPLE = looks like this** %ENDCOLOR%
- %TEAL% **Set TEAL = looks like this** %ENDCOLOR%
- %NAVY% **Set NAVY = looks like this** %ENDCOLOR%
- %BLUE% **Set BLUE = looks like this** %ENDCOLOR%
- %AQUA% **Set AQUA = looks like this** %ENDCOLOR%
- %LIME% **Set LIME = looks like this** %ENDCOLOR%
- %GREEN% **Set GREEN = looks like this** %ENDCOLOR%
- %OLIVE% **Set OLIVE = looks like this** %ENDCOLOR%
- %MAROON% **Set MAROON = looks like this** %ENDCOLOR%
- %BROWN% **Set BROWN = looks like this** %ENDCOLOR%
- %BLACK% **Set BLACK = looks like this** %ENDCOLOR%
- %GRAY% **Set GRAY = looks like this** %ENDCOLOR%
- %SILVER% **Set SILVER = looks like this** %ENDCOLOR%
- %WHITE% **Set WHITE = looks like this (with gray background)** %ENDCOLOR%
- The following color settings are enclosed in verbatim tags to avoid incorrect nesting of XHTML tags:
* Set YELLOW =
* Set ORANGE =
* Set RED =
* Set PINK =
* Set PURPLE =
* Set TEAL =
* Set NAVY =
* Set BLUE =
* Set AQUA =
* Set LIME =
* Set GREEN =
* Set OLIVE =
* Set MAROON =
* Set BROWN =
* Set BLACK =
* Set GRAY =
* Set SILVER =
* Set WHITE =
* Set ENDCOLOR =
## Miscellaneous Settings
- Format of a [[NewWikiWord]] link:
- Note that `$text` is the topic link text, `$topic` is the name of the new topic, and `$web` is the name of the web for the new topic. Values for the 3 are taken from the link syntax `[[$web.$topic][$text]]`. For normal plain WikiWord links `$text` and `$topic` are the same. The value of `$web` is the current web unless the link is in the format `$web.$topic`.
- default setting:
- Set NEWLINKFORMAT = [$text](http://www.dementia.org/twiki/edit/$web/$topic?topicparent=%WEB%.%TOPIC% $text (this topic does not yet exist; you can create it))
- alternative setting:
- #Set NEWLINKFORMAT = [$text](http://www.dementia.org/twiki/edit/$web/$topic?topicparent=%WEB%.%TOPIC% Create this topic)
- %SYSTEMWEB%.PreviewBackground image:
- Set PREVIEWBGIMAGE = ![preview2bg.gif](http://www.dementia.org/twiki//view/%SYSTEMWEB%/PreviewBackground/preview2bg.gif)
- User-friendly synonyms for system webs
- Set DOCWEB = %SYSTEMWEB%
- show extra help for ApacheLogin users for [[TWikiAdminUser]] login
- Set ADMINLOGIN = [internal admin login](http://www.dementia.org/twiki/login?sudo=sudo;origurl=http://www.dementia.org/twiki/view/Main/WebHome) (use the username suggested and the password set in configure).
## Access Control Settings
- No-one (except admins) should change this topic
- Set ALLOWTOPICCHANGE = %USERSWEB%.TWikiAdminGroup
- Set ALLOWTOPICRENAME = %USERSWEB%.TWikiAdminGroup
## Creating New Preference Variables
You can introduce new VARIABLES and use them in your topics and templates. There is no need to change the TWiki engine (Perl scripts).
- A preference is defined in a [[TWikiShorthand]] bullet item: **[3 spaces] \* [space] Set NAME = value** Example (as a nested bullet item, indented 6 spaces):
- Set WEBBGCOLOR = #FFFFC0
- Preferences are used as %SYSTEMWEB%.TWikiVariables by enclosing the name in percent signs: **%**. Example:
- When you write variable **%WEBBGCOLOR%**, it gets expanded to `%WEBBGCOLOR%` .
- %X% The sequential order of the preference settings is significant. Define preferences that use other preferences FIRST. For example, set **WEBCOPYRIGHT** before **WIKIWEBMASTER** since the copyright notice uses the TWiki administrator e-mail address.
- %X% In order to protect your custom variables from being overwritten when upgrading the [[%SYSTEMWEB%.%TOPIC%|SYSTEMWEB/TOPIC]] topic, it is recommended that custom variables are defined in [[%USERSWEB%.%TOPIC%|USERSWEB/TOPIC]].
## Protected System Settings
The following settings are declared final to protect them as read only. These are system variables that should never be attempted set or altered in any preference topic or topic settings.
- Set FINALPREFERENCES = WEB, TOPIC
## Related Topics
- [[WebPreferences]] has preferences of the %WEB% web.
- User topics in %USERSWEB% can have optional user preferences.
- %SYSTEMWEB%.TWikiVariables has a list of common `%VARIABLES%`.
- %SYSTEMWEB%.TWikiAccessControl explains how to restrict access by users or groups.
- TWiki:Plugins.PreferencesPlugin makes editing preferences a snap.
**_Note_**: Can't edit? [[View raw topic|%WEB%/%TOPIC%?raw=on]]