xdesc reads its configuration parameters from .xdescrc file during its startup. These parameters concern appearance of the program and other working parameters. The application expects to find its configuration file in a directory which name is kept in environmental variable $DAVIDPRIVDIR. When such file doesn't exist, the application begins its work with its default settings. When the application finishes its work, it records its default settings and working parameters in .xdescrc file. During work of the application, information about some errors can be printed on stderr instead of displaying of message boxes.

Main view of the application shows the list of configuration file lines. The list consists of two columns. The first column shows a regular expression describing a range of messages. The second one shows instructions which are processed if an identifier of a given message matches to the regular expression.

11.2.2.1. Main view buttons

Information presented in a main view of the application can be edited using the toolbar buttons. The first four buttons from the left correspond with options of File menu, while the next one - Edit menu. Descriptions of the buttons are showed in the chart below:

Table 11.1. xdesc - buttons of Edit and View menu

Button	Description
	It allows you to exit the application. Before the exit you will be asked whether you want to save changes in a modified file.
	It lets you create a new empty configuration file.
	It allows you to open an existed configuration file.
	It allows you to save an edited configuration file (when the edited file is a new one, the user is asked about its name).
Save as	There's the option of the File menu which doesn't correspond to buttons on the toolbar. It allows you to save edited document as a file which name is specified by a user.
	It allows you to add a new line of the configuration file.
	It changes an order of selected lines in the file, it moves them up.
	It changes an order of selected lines in the file, it moves them down.
	It copies selected lines.
	It pastes copied lines to the end of the list.
	It allows you to configure a selected line of the file.; it opens Traps range window.
	It deletes the selected lines.
	It deletes all lines displayed in the file.
	It lets you reverse selection of lines in the file.
	It allows you to unselect all lines previously selected.

In View menu two options are placed additionally - Show tool bar and Show status bar. They allow you to show or hide the toolbar and the status bar.

Through Help menu you can find out about the application version and its creation time.