code: @Pure
  	public static boolean getDirectionSymbolInPreferredStringRepresentation() {
  		final Preferences prefs = Preferences.userNodeForPackage(GeodesicPosition.class);
  		if (prefs != null) {
  			return prefs.getBoolean("SYMBOL_IN_STRING_REPRESENTATION", DEFAULT_SYMBOL_IN_STRING_REPRESENTATION); //$NON-NLS-1$
  		}
  		return DEFAULT_SYMBOL_IN_STRING_REPRESENTATION;
  	}
docs: Replies if the direction symbol should be
  output in the preferred string representation
  of a geodesic position.
  
  @return <code>true</code> if the direction symbol should be output,
  <code>false</code> if the signs of the coordinates indicate the directions.
  @see #setPreferredStringRepresentation(GeodesicPositionStringRepresentation, boolean)
  @see #getPreferredStringRepresentation()
  @see #toString()