def saveSettings(self, settings):
        """
        Records the current structure of the view widget to the inputed \
        settings instance.
        
        :param      settings | <QSettings>
        """
        # record the profile
        profile = self.saveProfile()
        key     = self.objectName()
        
        settings.setValue('%s/profile' % key, wrapVariant(profile.toString()))
        
        # record the view type settings
        for viewType in self.viewTypes():
            viewType.saveGlobalSettings(settings)
Records the current structure of the view widget to the inputed \
        settings instance.
        
        :param      settings | <QSettings>