# Console Preferences

The following preferences can be set using the Run/Debug > Console preference page.

The console displays output from running applications, and allows keyboard input to be read by running applications.

Option | Description | Default
--- | --- | ---
Fixed width console | This preference controls whether the console has a fixed character width. When on, a maximum character width must also be specified. Some applications write long lines to the console which require horizontal scrolling to read. This can be avoided by setting the console to use a fixed width, automatically wrapping console output. | Off
Limit console output | This preference limits the number of characters buffered in the console. When on, a maximum buffer size must also be specified. When console output surpasses the specified maximum, output is truncated from the beginning of the buffer. | On
Displayed Tab Width | Allows the default width, in characters, of a tab to be specified | 8

Enable auto scroll lock

This preference controls whether the console view enables and disables scroll locking automatically. When on, scroll locking is enabled as soon as the user scrolls up the console output. It will be disabled once the user scrolls to the end of console output. Scroll locking prevents the console view from immediately returning to the end of console output in response to changes.

On

Enable word wrap | This preference controls whether the console view aligns its output with its current horizontal size so as to avoid the need of horizontal scrolling. When on, a line of console output that is too long to fit in the console view will be wrapped on word boundaries. | Off
Show When Program Writes to Standard Out | This preference will force the console to show when something is written to the system out stream. A forced-show can mean that a console will be opened, or that the console will be brought to the top if it is already open. | On
Show When Program Writes to Standard Error | This preference will force the console to show when something is written to the system err stream. A forced-show can mean that a console will be opened, or that the console will be brought to the top if it is already open. | On
Standard Out Text Color | This preference controls the color of text written to the standard output stream by an application. | Black
Standard Error Text Color | This preference controls the color of text written to the standard error stream by an application. | Red
Standard In Text Color | This preference controls the color of text typed into the console to be read by an application. | Green
Background Color | This preference controls the color of the background of the console | White
Interpret ASCII control characters | This preference will enable interpretation of some ASCII control characters in console. So far console can interpret backspace (`\b`), carriage return (`\r`), form feed (`\f`), vertical tab (`\v`) and null byte (`\0`) if enabled. (see next preference for additional option on carriage return) | Off
Interpret Carriage Return (\r) as control character | This preference decides how carriage return is handled if interpretation of control characters is enabled. Some OS like older versions of MacOS use carriage return as line delimiter so it may be desired to exclude them from control character interpretation. Carriage Return will be interpreted as line delimiter when this option is Off. | On

You can also click the Change button to set the font for the Console.

### Related concepts

Debugger
Java perspectives
Java views
Local debugging
Remote debugging

### Related tasks

Launching a Java program
Running and debugging

### Related reference

Console View
Installed JREs Preferences
Java Debug Preferences
Launching Preferences
Perspectives Preferences
Run/Debug Preferences
String Substitution Preferences
View Management Preferences