preference::get_preference_type_id       Get the preference ID given the short name 
preference::get_user_pref       Get a user, package, or default preference. 
preference::set_package_default       Sets the default preference value for a package ID 
preference::set_user_pref       Set a user preference. 
preference::type::delete       This deletes a preference type. 
preference::type::new       Create a new preference type.