code: def get_preferences(self):
          
          # default
          preferences = {}
          preferences['gui_resolution'] = 100.
          preferences['show_Zij_treatments'] = True
          preferences['show_Zij_treatments_steps'] = 2.
          preferences['show_eqarea_treatments'] = False
          preferences['auto_save'] = True
          # preferences['show_statistics_on_gui']=["int_n","int_ptrm_n","frac","scat","gmax","b_beta","int_mad","dang","f","fvds","g","q","drats"]#,'ptrms_dec','ptrms_inc','ptrms_mad','ptrms_angle']
          #
          # try to read preferences file:
          #user_data_dir = find_pmag_dir.find_user_data_dir("demag_gui")
          # if not user_data_dir:
          #    return preferences
          # if os.path.exists(user_data_dir):
          #    pref_file = os.path.join(user_data_dir, "demag_gui_preferences.json")
          #    if os.path.exists(pref_file):
          #        with open(pref_file, "r") as pfile:
          #            return json.load(pfile)
          return preferences
docs: Gets preferences for certain display variables from
          zeq_gui_preferences.