static PreferencesHelper()
 {
     //create the file if it does not already exist
     if(!System.IO.File.Exists(PreferencesFileName))
     {
         UserPreferences prefs = new UserPreferences();
         PreferencesHelper.SavePreferences(prefs);
     }
 }
 public static void SavePreferences(UserPreferences prefs)
 {
     XmlSerializer xs = new XmlSerializer(typeof(UserPreferences));
     using (TextWriter tw = new StreamWriter( PreferencesFileName ))
     {
         xs.Serialize(tw, prefs);
     }
 }
        private void SaveSettings()
        {
            UserPreferences prefs = new UserPreferences();

            prefs.TimerMinutes = int.Parse(_timerMinutes.SelectedItem.ToString());
            prefs.ShowCountTooltip = _showCountTooltip.Checked;
            prefs.AnimatePopup = _animatePopup.Checked;
            prefs.StartAtWindowsStartup = _startWithWindows.Checked;
            prefs.BrowserName = _browserList.SelectedItem.ToString();
            prefs.BrowserPath = _browserPath[_browserList.SelectedIndex];
            prefs.LastUpdateCheck = _lastUpdateCheck;
            prefs.Username = _userName.Text;
            prefs.Password = _password.Text;
            prefs.NotificationAudioFilePath = _notificationAudioFilePath.Text;
            prefs.UnreadIcon = _unreadIcon.SelectedIndex;

            if (prefs.FilterTags == null)
            {
                prefs.FilterTags = new List<string>();
            }

            prefs.FilterTags.Clear();

            for (int i = 0; i < tagsListBox.CheckedItems.Count; i++)
            {
                prefs.FilterTags.Add(tagsListBox.CheckedItems[i].ToString());
            }

            PreferencesHelper.SavePreferences(prefs);
        }