The Options tab is used to set a variety of configuration preferences in SafeHouse.
This dialog is accessed from the SafeHouse system tray utility Tools & Options menu item.
The drop list and Options button are used to configure SafeHouse's use of smartcards.
The drop list will only display choices which are available on your machine. The list contents could vary based on which smartcard devices, if any, are attached to your PC.
See Using Smartcards with SafeHouse.
Disabled - Prohibits all use of smartcards in SafeHouse, even if a compatible device is available.
Auto-detect - Be on the lookout for a compatible smartcard device. If found, lock in on it and begin using it within SafeHouse. This is the default setting.
ActivIdentity - Enables use of smartcard hardware from ActivIdentity. Included in the list only when the ActivIdentity software drivers are detected. Professional Edition Only.
Aladdin - Enables use of smartcard and eToken devices from Aladdin. Included in the list only when the Aladdin software drivers are detected. Professional Edition Only.
Virtual Smartcard using USB flash drive - Simulate a smartcard using an off-the-shelf USB flash drive or memory stick. Use the Options button to create one or more virtual smartcards.
Sphinx - Enables the use of Sphinx smartcards from Open Domain Systems.
Power Logon - Enables the use of smartcard and USB devices from Access Smart. Included in the list only when the Power Logon software is detected.
Generic PKCS#11 Smartcard - Enables the use of a generic smartcard device which conforms to the PKCS#11 industry standard. You will be required to point SafeHouse to the PKCS#11 driver file which accompanied your device. Use this option when you know your smartcard device supports the PKCS#11 standard, yet it is not natively supported by SafeHouse. Due to the wide range of design flexibility in the PKCS#11 standard, some devices may not fully support the set of programming interfaces required by SafeHouse. Professional Edition Only.
The default setting is Auto-detect, which causes SafeHouse to remain on the lookout for a compatible device. If a compatible device is detected during installation, it will be selected automatically in the drop list and SafeHouse will assume you'd like to use this device whenever possible. If no compatible device is initially found, then each time SafeHouse is run from there after, it will perform a quick check to see if you've recently installed a new smartcard device. This test in instantaneous and harmless. Once a device is detected, SafeHouse locks in on it and selects it in the drop list.
The benefit of the Auto-detect setting is that you don't have to manually configure SafeHouse to begin using a new device. This is especially convenient when SafeHouse is bundled with smartcard solutions which are natively supported since SafeHouse will begin using the respective hardware right away without any user intervention.
When this box is checked, whenever you open a new volume in SafeHouse, its file contents will immediately be displayed within an Explorer window, giving you instant access to your files protected. If this is not desirable, uncheck this box and SafeHouse will not do anything with your files after opening volumes. In this case, you can open an Explorer window when you're ready.
When this box is checked, SafeHouse will play its trademark sounds after opening and closing volumes. Clear this box if you do not want to hear any sounds.
See How to Change the Sounds in SafeHouse to learn about replacing the default sound (WAV) files used by SafeHouse.
SafeHouse normally simulates Windows fixed hard drives when adding new Windows drive letters to represent your SafeHouse volumes. Sometimes, however, it might be desirable or necessary to instead simulate a removable drive. One possible reason for this which comes up now and then is to resolve some kind of driver compatibility conflict.
One important difference between fixed and removable media modes is that Windows does not keep a recycle bin for most removable media devices. Most people prefer to have this feature available to them, which is why SafeHouse defaults to simulated fixed media.
Check this box to instruct SafeHouse to simulate removable media when adding drive letters.
SafeHouse has the ability to detect if you have open document files on volumes you're attempting to close. Since closing a volume while files are still in use is generally not a good idea, SafeHouse will display a warning whenever it detects this situation.
Check this box to suppress this SafeHouse warning.
Closing a volume while files are in use is analogous to turning off your computer while files are in use. Unless you're sure of what you're doing, abruptly closing a volume under these circumstances could cause damage to your files.