function get_company_pref($prefs = null)
{
    global $SysPrefs, $db_version;

    if (!isset($SysPrefs->prefs))     // just after first login or reset
        $SysPrefs->refresh();

    $all = $SysPrefs->prefs;

    if (!$prefs)
        return $all;
    elseif (is_string($prefs))
        return @$all[$prefs];

    $ret = array();
    foreach($prefs as $name)
        $ret[$name] = $all[$name];

    return $ret;
}

function get_company_pref($prefs = null){
    global $SysPrefs, $db_version;

    if (!isset($SysPrefs->prefs))     // just after first login or reset
        $SysPrefs->refresh();

    $all = $SysPrefs->prefs;
    if ($prefs && is_string($prefs))
        return @$all[$prefs];     // silent on absent array element

    if (!is_array($all))
        $all = array();

    return $all;}